ORLANDO, FLA - Valley City State University baseball team picked up a solid victory over Lawrence Tech, using timely hitting and strong pitching to secure a 6–3 win. The Vikings improve to 11-8 overall and are 5-3 during their trip to the RussMatt Invitational. Lawrence Tech falls to 7-8 overall.
The Vikings struck first in the opening inning when
Alexis Velasco doubled. He later scored on a passed ball after
Kaden Rozdeba reached on a strikeout that got away from the catcher. That gave VCSU a quick 1–0 advantage before the pitching staffs settled in.
The Vikings added to their lead in the second inning thanks to
Anthony Madsen, who launched a solo home run to left field to make it 2–0. Lawrence Tech managed to get a run back in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a steal of home after a catcher's error helped extend the frame. Despite the run, the Vikings pitching staff kept the Blue Devils from generating much offense through the middle innings, stranding multiple runners while maintaining a narrow 2–1 lead.
The turning point came in the sixth inning when VCSU rallied to score four runs. After Rozdeba walked and
Brady Papineau was hit by a pitch, Nick Senn stepped to the plate and crushed a three-run home run to left field. The blast plated
Evan Gonzalez and Rozdeba, stretching the Viking lead to 5–1.
Lawrence Tech attempted to rally in the bottom half of the sixth, scoring two runs on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 5–3. However, the Vikings answered in the seventh when
Diesel Goya came home on a Rozdeba RBI groundout to extend the lead to 6–3. From there, the VCSU bullpen closed the door, holding the Blue Devils scoreless over the final three innings to secure the victory. Senn's three-run homer highlighted the offense, while Madsen's solo shot and the early run from Velasco helped the Vikings build the cushion needed to finish off the win.
The Vikings were led by
Nicholas Senn who went 2/4 delivering a home run, three RBIs, and a run.
Anthony Madsen was also 2/4 with a home run. Vikings
Easton Francis was credited his first win of the season improving to 1-0.
Michael Simbulan earned a save in his ninth inning appearance. Lawrence Tech's Max Coughlin was credited the loss, his third of the season.
UP NEXT: The Vikings are set to take on Trinity Baptist College in Orlando, Fla on Thursday, March 12, at 3:15 p.m.
