ORLANDO, FLA – The Valley City State University baseball team came up just short falling 10-9 in a tight battle with Dordt University.
 
The Vikings are now 7-8 on the season and are 2-3 on their trip to Orlando, Fla. Dordt improves to 6-9 on the season and is now 1-2 in their trip to Florida.
 
DU 10, VCSU 9
The Vikings rallied in the top of the ninth to tie the game but fell just short giving up the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Kaden Rozdeba was 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs in the contest. Cody Wielgosh and Diesel Goya were both 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
 
The Vikings got on the board early scoring on a Kaden Rozdeba single that drove home Jaden Babiuk. Later in the top of the third they added to their lead after Cody Wielgosh grounded out allowing Rozdeba to score.
 
Dordt answered in the bottom of the third closing the gap to 2-1 scoring on a Viking error. Later in the bottom of the fifth scored two off a single to center field bringing home runners on second and third, taking a 3-2 lead.
 
To start the top of the sixth Daegen Morcom sent a solo home run to right field tying the game 3-3. Later Rozdeba tripled to center field scoring Goya. Papineau hit a sacrifice fly scoring Rozdeba making it 5-3.
 
Dordt responded scoring one in the sixth and, three in the seventh, and one in the eighth, reclaiming and growing their lead to 9-5.
 
The Vikings rallied in the top of the ninth loading the bases with a pair of walks and a single. With the bases loaded the Kellen Scruggs scored on a wild pitch while runners on first and second advanced. Hunter Logan was walked on the same at bat loading the bases again. In the next at bat Wielgosh scored on another wild pitch with runners advancing. With another wild pitch Scruggs scored, and Logan advanced to third. Morcom was walked after being hit by a pitch in the same at bat. Goya then singled bringing in the tying run.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, the Vikings fell after an error allowing Dordt's baserunner to reach home.
 
Viking pitcher Johan Freudenburg was credited with the loss giving up a walk and a run in the bottom of the ninth.
 
Dordt's Matthew Eubanks was credited the win pitching one inning giving up zero runs, one walk, and one strikeout.
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings take on Cornerstone University on Friday, March 7 in Orlando, Fla.