DAVENPORT, FLA. – The Valley City State baseball team erupted for 14 runs and 16 hits in the second half of a split doubleheader Thursday in Florida.
 
Four different Vikings had three hits each during a big 14-4 win against Cornerstone University, which salvaged a split for VCSU. The Vikings dropped the first game of the day, falling 6-1 to Morningside University.
 
Valley City State is now 8-10 overall and is 4-4 through the first eight games in Florida. The Vikings have just three games remaining on their spring break trip.
 
Up next: Valley City State faces Rochester University for a single game Friday morning starting at 8:15 a.m. CT.
 
VCSU 14, Cornerstone 4
The Vikings scored in six of the seven innings against Cornerstone, taking control early with two runs in the first, two runs in the second and three more runs in the third inning for an early 7-0 lead. After Cornerstone trimmed the VCSU lead to 7-4 after four innings, the Vikings tacked on seven more runs over the next three innings to seal the victory.
 
Dustin Mertz, Cam Pero, Cody Wielgosh and Jamel Chabot all had three hits during the victory. Wielgosh was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, three runs, three RBI and a pair of walks. Pero went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, two runs and two RBIs.
 
Mertz finished the day 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and Chabot went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs. Jaden Babiuk added two hits and scored two runs, and Anthony Madsen drove in a pair of runs.
 
Christopher Dietrich got the start on the mound and worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing two runs. He did not allow a hit but walked four, struck out four and hit two batters. Brendan Berk pitched an inning of relief and earned the win. Connor Nelson went 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Jarrett Faue finished off the game with a scoreless seventh inning on the mound.
 
Morningside 6, VCSU 1
Valley City State's offense was kept quiet by Morningside pitcher Conner Maston in the opening game on Thursday. He limited VCSU to just two hits – including a solo home run by Dustin Mertz – as Morningside won 6-1.
 
Hunter Magnuson started on the mound for VCSU and worked into the sixth inning. He gave up five hits and six runs – only two of which were earned. Magnuson walked three and struck out six in the loss.
 
Neither team scored in the first two innings before Morningside took the lead with a 2-run home run in the top of the third. The Mustangs broke the game wide open in the fifth with four runs for a 6-0 lead.
 
Mertz hit his solo home run in the sixth to trim the deficit to 6-1. Jaden Babiuk had VCSU's other hit – a double to lead off the game. The Vikings loaded the bases with just one out in the first inning, but Maston worked out of the jam unscathed with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
Keeton Clark pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief for VCSU.