TUCSON, ARIZ. –
Drew Nixon hit two home runs Wednesday night, and the Valley City State baseball team erupted for 15 runs to open their spring trip with a big victory.
The Vikings scored 15 runs on 12 hits as they earned a 15-5 win over Park University Gilbert in a rain-shortened contest. The game was called in the top of the sixth inning.
It is the first win of the spring season for the Vikings, who now have a 3-12 overall record. VCSU now begins conference play on Thursday, playing the first two games of a four-game set against Dickinson State. First pitch is at 1 p.m. CDT in Tucson.
On Wednesday night, the Vikings scored in five of their six at bats to pull away from Park University.
Dustin Mertz drew a walk to open the game and then worked his way home on a stolen base and two wild pitches.
Drew Nixon followed with his first home run of the night, opening up a 2-0 Viking lead.
VCSU broke the game wide open with seven runs in the top of the third inning.
Drew Nixon started the scoring with an RBI single, and then
Tory Nelson,
Judson Seliskar,
Carter Dodd and
Jaden Babiuk all drove in runs to give VCSU a 9-0 lead.
Park University put up four runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning, but the Vikings kept scoring.
Drew Nixon hit a 2-run home run in the top of the fourth and then VCSU tacked on three runs in the fifth with RBIs by
Shane Nixon and
Jay Greuel.
Adam Thompson added an RBI single in the sixth before the game was called due to rain.
Drew Nixon finished the game going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two home runs and four RBIs.
Adam Thompson went 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
Jaden Babiuk had a pair of hits and drove in two runs.
Carter Dodd doubled, scored and drove in a run, and
Dustin Mertz had a hit, two walks and two runs scored. Greuel and Nelson both added a hit and RBIs.
The non-conference game was designated as a pitcher-by-committee game for the Vikings as they prepare for the 4-game conference series this week.
Alex McBride started on the mound and went 2 1/3 innings to earn the win. He allowed three hits and four runs, walking three and striking out one.
Connor Nelson pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, striking out one and giving up three hits and a run.
Keeton Clark pitched a scoreless fifth inning, allowing just one hit and striking out one.
Up next: VCSU plays Dickinson State in a conference doubleheader Thursday starting at 1 p.m. CDT in Tucson.
