From VCSU Athletics (photo by Taylor Sargent)
VALLEY CITY (vcsuvikings.com) – Dustin Mertz pitched 6 1/3 innings and Tory Nelson went 3-for-3 as the VCSU baseball team picked up a 6-3 win over Dickinson State during game one of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Mertz was perfect through the first 3 2/3 innings of an impressive performance, giving up just four hits en route to his first win of the season. Freshman Landon Piehl got the final two outs for a save in his first collegiate pitching appearance.
Dickinson State picked up a 14-4 win in game two as the teams split the doubleheader.
Valley City State is now 2-3 overall this season. Dickinson State moves to 2-3 as well. The Vikings have two fall games remaining, playing at Jamestown on Oct. 3 before hosting Mayville State on Oct. 5.
VCSU 6, Dickinson State 3
Valley City State put up four runs in the first inning of game one, giving Mertz early run support.
The junior right-hander did not allow a hit through the first 3 2/3 innings. Dickinson State put together a two-out rally in the fourth inning, stringing together four hits and cutting the Viking lead to 4-3. That’s all the Blue Hawks would get though.
The Vikings tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning on a Drew Nixon solo home run and an RBI double by Jay Greuel. Mertz worked into the seventh inning and then Piehl finished off the 6-3 Viking victory.
Mertz allowed just four hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three en route to the win.
Tory Nelson led the offense with a 3-for-3 game at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in one. Shane Nixon and Drew Nixon each had two hits and drove in a run. Adam Thompson was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Jay Greuel finished with a double and two RBIs.
Dickinson State 14, VCSU 4
The Blue Hawk offense came alive with 14 runs on 12 hits in game two of the doubleheader. The Vikings finished with four runs on five hits, but were hampered by six errors that led to seven unearned runs.
Mertz was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI to lead the Viking offense. Nelson and Zach Veneman both had a hit and an RBI, and Jaden Babiuk went 1-for-3.
Jace Hanson started on the mound for VCSU and worked two innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs. Andrew Gartrell, Devon Cook, Ty Blackmer and Kaine Young all pitched in relief.
Kaine Reeve had three hits for Dickinson State, and Dawson Cortese was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Cortese and Alberto Nieto each homered for the Blue Hawks.
Kobe Krenz pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief to pick up the win for Dickinson, and Richie Cortese pitched three scoreless innings to finish the game.