LA CROSSE, WIS. – The Valley City State baseball team turned in some strong pitching performances Sunday but could not convert those into wins during at doubleheader at Viterbo University.
Valley City State's pitching and defense limited the V-Hawks to just six runs total over 17 innings Sunday. For Viterbo, that was just enough offense as they edged the Vikings 2-1 in 11 innings and then 4-2 in the second half of the doubleheader.
VCSU is now 5-21 overall and 1-9 in conference play. Viterbo moves to 7-18 overall and 5-5 in the NSAA.
The Vikings are V-Hawks are back in action Monday for another doubleheader at 12 p.m. in La Crosse.
Viterbo 2, VCSU 1 (11 innings)
Hunter Magnuson pitched seven shutout innings for VCSU in game one as the teams entered extra innings in a scoreless tie.
Valley City State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10
th inning after
Shane Nixon reached on an error, moved to third on a single by
Jaden Babiuk and then scored on
Adam Thompson's bunt. The Vikings were one out away from the win in the bottom of the 10
th, but Viterbo's Marcus Hornacek delivered a two-out RBI single to tie the game at 1-1. The V-Hawks then pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 11
th.
Magnuson gave the Vikings seven scoreless innings on the mound to start the game, scattering six hits and recording 10 strikeouts. Freshman
Connor Nelson pitched two scoreless innings in relief, not allowing a hit and striking out four.
Ryan Reynolds took the loss after coming on in the 10
th inning.
Valley City State's offense was only able to put together four hits in the game.
Jaden Babiuk was 2-for-5 to lead the offense, while both
Drew Nixon and
Carter Dodd had a hit.
Viterbo 4, VCSU 2
The teams were tied 1-1 and 2-2 in game two of the doubleheader, but Viterbo took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Valley City State struck first with a run in the second inning.
Drew Nixon reached on a walk and advanced to third on singles by
Kaden Rozdeba and
Zach Veneman.
Cam Pero then delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring Nixon for an early 1-0 lead.
Viterbo tied the game in the third inning and then took a 2-1 lead with another run in the fourth. Nixon doubled home
Dustin Mertz in the top of the sixth for VCSU, tying the game again at 2-2. Viterbo took the lead for good after manufacturing a pair of runs in the sixth inning, taking advantage of a walk and two hit batters.
Drew Nixon was 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI to lead VCSU's offense.
Adam Thompson, Rozdeba and
Zach Veneman all had a hit and Pero drove in a run.
Daniel Alvarado started and had a solid outing on the mound, going 5 2/3 innings. Alvarado scattered eight hits, three earned runs, walked four and struck out one.
Keeton Clark recorded one out in relief.