DICKINSON, N.D. –
Connor Martin and
Takao Cookson combined on a three-hit shutout leading the Valley City State University Vikings to a 2-0 win over Dickinson State Thursday at the Frontier Conference Baseball Tournament in Dickinson.
Valley City State is 25-22-1 overall. Dickinson State falls to 25-24 overall.
Evan Gonzalez did the heavy lifting with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the second inning. It was his team leading ninth home run of the season.
Nick Senn's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth scored
Connor Hoyt with an insurance run, making it 2-0 VCSU.
Martin and Cookson did the rest. Martin, who was named the Frontier Conference Pitcher of the Year Wednesday night at the awards banquet, allowed just two hits in 7 2/3 innings. The left-hander walked five and struck out ten. That gives him 128 strikeouts on the season, breaking the school record of 121 that was set by Darin Loe in 1987. He also extended his streak of scoreless innings to 14 2/3 and his streak of not allowing an earned run to 34 2/3 innings.
Takao Cookson came on in relief and picked up the save with 1 1/3 innings of work. He allowed one hit and struck out three.
Connor Hoyt was 3 for 4 with a run scored for VCSU.
Evan Gonzalez was 1 for 2 with a solo home run. Nick Senn was 1 for 3 with an RBI.
Cody Wielgosh,
Kaden Rozdeba, and
Devon Minney were all 1 for 4.
Alexis Velasco was 1 for 2.
In other games on day one of the tournament. Mayville State beat Dakota State 11-8, Dickinson State defeated Bismarck State 14-4. Bellevue rolled past Mayville State 20-1.
UP NEXT: Valley City State will play top seed Bellevue in a winner's bracket game at 4:00pm MT/5:00 CT Friday in Dickinson.
