MITCHELL, S.D. – Valley City State University took three out of four games this week during a North Star Athletic Association baseball series with Viterbo University.
 
After sweeping both games on Wednesday, the Vikings split Thursday's doubleheader, winning game one 5-4 and dropping the series finale 15-8.
 
VCSU is now 11-18 overall and 3-5 in conference play. Viterbo moves to 5-27 overall and 4-4 in the North Star.
 
Up next: Valley City State is off until a non-conference doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan University on April 3.
 
VCSU 5, Viterbo 4
Dustin Mertz scored the game-winning run on a throwing error in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Vikings a 5-4 lead. Relief pitcher Riley Resnick shut the door in the seventh inning, preserving the game three victory.
 
The Vikings struck first with three runs in their first at bat. Kaden Rozdeba put the Vikings on the board with a two-out RBI double, and then Justin Rogers later followed with a 2-run single to give VCSU a 3-0 lead. Jaden Babiuk's RBI double in the second inning scored Daegen Morcom to make it 4-0.
 
Viterbo battled back and tied the game at 4-4 behind the bat of Brett Stuessel, who hit a solo home run in the third inning and a two-run home run in the fifth to tie the game.
 
In the top of the sixth, Resnick came on for VCSU with two on and two outs, and was able to record a strikeout to end the threat. Dustin Mertz was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the inning and eventually came around to score the go-ahead run on a throwing error. Resnick then finished off the game in the seventh, preserving the VCSU win.
 
Christopher Dietrich started on the mound for VCSU and worked four innings, allowing just two hits and two runs. He walked two and struck out three. Jacob Marx pitched 1 2/3 innings, and then Resnick pitched 1 1/3 scoreless to pick up the victory in relief.
 
Jamel Chabot had three hits for VCSU, and Rogers drove in a pair of runs. Rozdeba and Babiuk each had RBI doubles for the Vikings.
 
Stuessel led the V-Hawks with a 2-for-4 game at the plate, hitting two home runs. Garrett Heying added a pair of hits.
 
Viterbo 15, VCSU 8
The V-Hawks avoided a sweep in the series finale, putting up 15 runs and 17 hits in a 15-8 victory.
 
VCSU led 5-2 after home runs by Dustin Mertz and Kaden Rozdeba in the third inning, but the V-Hawks put up five runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to take control.
 
Viterbo's Brandon Jaenke earned the win with five strong innings of relief pitching. Jaenke scattered three hits and two runs while striking out 11 batters.
 
Kahlil Tilbury started for VCSU and went four innings, allowing five hits and four runs. He walked two and struck out three. Jay Mendez, Jacob Marx, Brendan Berk and Eli Chabot all pitched in relief.
 
Cody Wells led the V-Hawks with a 5-for-6 game at the plate, scoring twice and driving in four. Ryan Mesa and Brett Stuessel each had three hits and three RBIs. Chance Claman drove in four runs for the V-Hawks.
 
Rozdeba had two hits and a 3-run home run for VCSU. Jamel Chabot was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Cam Pero had two hits, including a triple, and Mertz hit a solo home run.