TUCSON, ARIZ.   (VCSU.Com)  – The Valley City State baseball team won a wild game with Briar Cliff on Saturday, rallying from an early 7-2 deficit to claim a 13-11 victory.

The game featured five lead changes, including three lead changes in the final three innings. The Vikings trailed 11-10 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, but rallied to take a 13-11 lead with three runs. Briar Cliff threatened in the top of the ninth, putting the tying run on second base with one out, before Viking pitcher Jacob Rosales got a strikeout and groundout to clinch the victory.

VCSU improves to 3-8 overall this season and is now 2-4 on the spring trip to Arizona.

The Vikings won despite committing eight errors in the game. VCSU’s offense totaled 16 hits and 13 runs. Briar Cliff finished with 11 runs on 14 hits. The Chargers committed three errors.

Briar Cliff scored in each of the first three innings to build an early 7-2 lead. Valley City State chipped away and then tied the game at 9-9 on Sal Avila‘s 3-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. VCSU then took a 10-9 lead in the bottom of the seventh when Jayden Shipman singled home Nathan Demarais.

Briar Cliff took the lead right back, going up 11-10 after plating two runs in the top of the eighth. The Vikings would not be denied though as they rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Aiden Brook drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. Jorun Hame followed with an RBI single to make it 12-11 and then Christian Peery capped the rally with a sacrifice fly.

The Chargers put two runners on in the top of the ninth inning before Rosales worked out of the jam.

Rosales picked up the win after pitching the final 1 2/3 innings for VCSU, allowing two hits and striking out two. Shaun Kourajian started on the mound for VCSU and went 2 2/3 inning. Jacob Miller gave the Vikings three solid innings out of the bullpen, allowing four hits and two runs. Jaden Scott went 1 2/3 innings as well, allowing three hits and two runs.

Aiden Brook hit a 2-run home run in the first inning and finished the game 3-for-4 with a run and four RBIs. Avila’s 3-run blast highlighted his 3-for-4 day at the plate. Avila scored three times and drove in three. Jayden Shipman also went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in one. Austin Smith was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs, and Jorun Hamre totaled two hits and an RBI.

Up next: Valley City State is back in action Tuesday in Tucson with an 8 p.m. game against Morningside College.