MITCHELL, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com)–Valley City State University Baseball swept its season opening double header against Dakota Wesleyan University 8-4 and 9-4.
The Vikings capitalized on the mild 50-degree January weather on Thursday, Jan. 30 in Mitchell, S.D getting off to a 2-0 start to the season. The Tigers are 0-2 to start the season.
Up next the Vikings are headed to Kansas City, Kan. to take on Graceland University in a series of two double headers on Saturday Feb. 8 and Sunday Feb. 9.
VCSU 8, DWU 4
The Vikings trailed early after after a Joseph Tharaldson double that got Caleb Meyers home in the bottom of the first inning.
Later in the top of third the Vikings earned three runs on three hits with two runners left on base. The Vikings started the third with a Hunter Logan single. Logan advanced on a Judson Seliskar out. Porter Jorgenson earned a walk that was followed by a Diesel Goya double earning two RBI’s. Brady Papineau hit a single scoring Goya. The tigers found two outs to escape the inning with two Vikings left on base.
In the bottom of the third the Tigers earned two runs of their own tying the game 3-3 after a sacrifice fly from Joseph Tharaldson and a single from Diego Jirau.
In the fourth Daegen Morcom homered to give the Vkings a 4-3 lead. With a defensive hold in bottom of the fourth the Vikings opened up their lead in the top of the fifth. With Vikings on first and second Cam Pero singled scoring Papineau and advancing Justin Rogers second. With Morcom back at the plate he hammered a three-run homer to grow the lead to 8-3.
In the fifth DWU’s Meyers hit a solo home run to make the score 8-4 where the game would end.
The Vikings produced 10 hits, earning eight runs, with one error. Morcom was 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI’s. Goya was 1-for-4 with two RBI’s, one run, and a double. Papineau was 1-for-4 with a single, an RBI, and a run.
Starting pitcher Hunter Magnuson earned the win, pitching the first four innings giving up three runs, earning seven strikeouts and two walks. Takao Cookson came in at the start of the fifth and closed the game giving up one run, earned four strikeouts and zero walks.
VCSU 9, DWU 4
In game two the first inning came and went for both teams, however in the top of the second with one out the Vikings got on base with a Pero and Morcom walk. Velasco doubled scoring Pero and advancing Morcom to third. Cody Wielgosh earned another walk. With the based loaded the Tigers earned their second out at home plate however based remained loaded. During the next at bat Velasco scored on a passed ball and Jorgenson was walked reloading the bases. Goya singled driving in Wielgosh. Papineau singled scoring Logan and Jorgenson. The Tigers end the inning on fly out after giving up five runs where the Vikings left two runners on base.
The Tigers responded in the bottom of the second earning one run on two hits making the game 5-1 in favor of the Vikings.
The Vikings stayed hot in the third battling long at bats and earning walks. The first run was walked in after a Logan walk. Jorgenson hit a sacrifice fly scoring Morcom. After Goya was walked the bases were loaded once again. Papineau singled scoring Wielgosh and Logan. The Vikings scored four and left three on base making the game 9-1.
In the fifth Dakota Wesleyan scored three of Tharaldso double, a Jirau single, and Cowan single making the score 9-4 where the game would end.
The Vikings earned nine runs on six hits and ten walks. Papineau was 2-for-4 with four RBI’s. Velasco was 2-for-4 earning a RBI and a double. Goya was 1-for-4 earning two RBI’s.
Johan Freudenburg pitched two innings earning two strikeouts, one walk and gave up one run. Grady Shipman earned three strikeouts, one walk while giving up three runs on five hits. Connor Martin closed the contest earning six strikeouts, no walks giving up only one run.