MADISON, S.D. – Valley City State fell to conference leader Dakota State University during a baseball doubleheader Monday in Madison, S.D. Dakota State picked up 19-9 and 13-0 victories on day two of the four-game series.
 
Valley City State is now 11-29 overall and 7-17 in the North Star Athletic Association. The Vikings wrap up conference play this coming weekend with a four-game series against Mayville State. VCSU is currently seventh in the NSAA standings with four conference games remaining.
 
Dakota State improves to 33-13 overall and 23-1 in conference play. The Trojans will play a four-game series against Bellevue University this weekend, which will decide the NSAA regular season champion. Bellevue is currently 22-2 in conference play.
 
Up next: Valley City State is scheduled to close out conference play this weekend with a four-game series at Mayville State University. Weather permitting, the Vikings and Comets are scheduled to play doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday in Mayville.
 
Dakota State 19, VCSU 9 (7 innings)
Valley City State built an early 8-3 lead with a pair of home runs by Drew Nixon and Cam Pero, but VCSU was unable to hold that lead as Dakota State rallied back for a 19-9 win in game one.
 
Jay Greuel's 2-run single in the first inning scored Jett Salonek and Adam Thompson for an early 2-0 Viking lead. VCSU extended the lead to 5-1 on Drew Nixon's 3-run home run in the top of the second. Valley City State opened up an 8-3 advantage in the third inning after Cam Pero hit a 2-run home run.
 
Dakota State responded with six runs in the bottom of the third, regaining a 9-8 lead. The Trojans continued to stretch the lead with two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and six more runs in the sixth inning.
 
Valley City State finished with nine runs on nine hits. The Vikings committed five errors, leading to six unearned runs. Dakota State scored its 19 runs on 12 hits. The Trojans committed two errors.
 
Jaden Babiuk was 3-for-3 with an RBI for the Vikings, while Adam Thompson went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored. Nixon and Pero each hit home runs, and Jay Greuel drove in a pair of runs with a first-inning single. Nixon's home run was his 12th of the season, which is second-best in the NSAA. Pero's third-inning blast was his first collegiate home run.
 
Harrison Metz started on the mound for VCSU and pitched into the third inning, giving up six hits and eight runs – four of which were earned. He walked two and struck out one. Riley Resnick, Landon Piehl and Ashton Eldredge all pitched in relief.
 
Dakota State 13, VCSU 0
The Vikings were held to five hits in game two as Dakota State completed the sweep.
 
Drew Nixon had two of VCSU's hits, while Jaden Babiuk, Tory Nelson and Ryan Reynolds each had one hit apiece.
 
Andrew Gartrell started and pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and eight runs – two of which were unearned. Devon Cook pitched 2 2/3 solid innings of relief, allowing just two hits and a run. Adam Thompson and Dustin Mertz both pitched in relief as well.
 
Dakota State hit four home runs in the game, finishing with 11 total hits.