BASEBALL: Vikings down Viterbo in loser-out game
DICKINSON, N.D. – Hunter Magnuson pitched a complete game gem Saturday as the Valley City State baseball team staved off elimination with an 11-1 win against Viterbo University at the NSAA Baseball Tournament.
Valley City State scored three runs in the top of the first inning and that's all the run support Magnuson would need. The sophomore righthander gave up just the one run and scattered six hits. He walked four and struck out eight, including a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
The Vikings scored three runs in the first inning, three more in the third, four runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth to end the game by run rule after eight innings.
Valley City State (13-33) advances to another loser-out game Sunday morning at 9 a.m. MDT. Viterbo University ends its season with a 15-31 overall record.
The Vikings struck first with three runs in the first inning Saturday. Shane Nixon scored two with a two-out triple and then the Vikings successfully executed a double steal for a 3-0 lead. VCSU tacked on three more runs in the third inning, including another two-run triple off the bat of Zach Veneman.
Viterbo scored its only run in the bottom of the fourth as Ryder Mortensen singled home Spencer Hans to cut VCSU's lead to 6-1.
The Vikings broke the game open with four more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Jay Greuel drove in two with a pinch-hit double and then Troy Nelson singled home two more runs for a 10-1 lead. The Vikings added an insurance run in the eighth and then Magnuson set the V-Hawks down 1-2-3 in the eighth inning to finish off the victory.
Jaden Babiuk had three hits to lead the Viking offense while Drew Nixon and Dustin Mertz both went 2-for-4 with two runs. Shane Nixon drive in three runs, and both Tory Nelson and Zach Veneman had a hit and two RBIs.
Ryder Mortensen and Gavin Daniel both had two hits for Viterbo. Chad Herrera and Remy Stern also had one hit each for the V-Hawks. Cale Beckman started on the mound and took the loos, allowing five hits and six runs in three innings.