VCSU Baseball falls in matchup with Briar Cliff
ELKHORN, NEB. – Valley City State's offense came alive with its best day of the spring season on Sunday – putting up 16 hits and 10 runs – but Briar Cliff's offense did enough to hold the Vikings off as VCSU dropped a doubleheader with the Chargers.
Briar Cliff won game one, 6-3, and then held off the Vikings in game two, sweeping the doubleheader with a 10-7 win.
Jaden Babiuk had a big day at the plate for VCSU, going 5-for-7 during the doubleheader with a home run, two triples and three RBIs.
Up next: Valley City State (2-12) is scheduled to play a four-game series at Midland University on March 1011, weather permitting.
Briar Cliff 6, VCSU 3
Jaden Babiuk went 3-for-3 with a pair of triples to highlight game one for VCSU. Babiuk's first triple scored Jay Greuel in the top of the fourth inning, giving the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
The lead was short-lived though as Briar Cliff responded with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 6-2 lead en route to the 6-3 win.
Carter Dodd had a hit and an RBI for VCSU, and Jett Salonek was 2-for3. Jay Greuel tripled and scored two runs.
Dustin Mertz started on the mound and was strong through three innings. He ran into trouble in the fourth and finished the game allowing three hits and four runs in 3 1/3 innings pitched. He walked five and struck out two. Andrew Gartrell and Jace Hanson pitched in relief, with Hanson throwing two scoreless innings to finish the game.
Briar Cliff 10, VCSU 7
The Viking offense had its best game of the spring season putting up seven runs on nine hits, but Briar Cliff managed to score 10 runs to sweep the doubleheader.
The Chargers took control with five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, opening up a 7-1 lead. The Vikings scored three in the fifth inning – including a two-run home run by Babiuk – to pull within 7-4, but the Vikings were playing from behind the rest of the way.
Babiuk went 2-for-4 with the home run and two RBIs. Dustin Mertz also went 2-for-4, scoring a run and driving in two. Judson Seliskar collected two hits, scored a run and drove in one. Christian Ramirez doubled and scored.
Riley Resnick started for VCSU and took the loss. Resnick went three innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs. Landon Piehl pitched two innings in relief, and Connor Nelson pitched the final frame for VCSU.