(VCSU) The Valley City State baseball team moved its record back to .500 on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep at Presentation College.

The Vikings scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning of game one, picking up an 11-8 victory. In game two, the Vikings put up six runs in the fourth inning en route to an 8-3 victory and a Saturday sweep.

David Demeter had a monster day at the plate, batting 5-for-6 with two home runs and eight RBIs. That included a grand slam in game one and a three-run home run in game two. Demeter now has 10 home runs in 29 games this season. Adam Thompson was 3-for-4 on the day with two RBIs, and Ryan Reynolds was 4-for-6 with three runs, and three RBIs. The Vikings finished the day with 23 total hits, including nine extra-base hits.

Zach Veneman pitched two innings of relief in each game, allowing just one hit and an unearned run in his two late-game appearances.

With the two wins, Valley City State improves its record to 17-17 overall and 8-8 in the North Star Athletic Association. The Vikings are currently fourth in the NSAA standings after going 3-1 this weekend at Presentation College.

Up next: Valley City State is scheduled to host Dickinson State for a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday, although those games look unlikely to happen due to a projected winter storm expected to hit North Dakota on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

VCSU 11, Presentation College 8
Tied at 7-7, the Vikings took the lead for good with four runs in the top of the ninth inning. Ryan Reynolds broke the tie with a two-run double, and then Adam Thompson followed with a two-run single to put the Vikings ahead 11-7.

Presentation College threatened by loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. VCSU closer David Demeter walked in a run to make it 11-8, but proceeded to strike out the next three batters to seal the Viking victory and pick up his seventh save of the season.

Brooks Brown started on the mound and pitched six solid innings for the Vikings, scattering eight hits and seven runs – only four of which were earned. He walked two and struck out three. Veneman came on in relief and pitched two innings to pick up the win. He allowed a hit and an unearned run. Demeter entered with two runners on in the ninth inning and finished with three strikeouts in his one inning of work.

Demeter hit a grand slam in the top of the fourth inning, giving VCSU a 7-4 lead at the time. He finished the game batting 2-for-5 with two runs and five RBIs. Drew Nixon was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, while Thompson was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Reynolds doubled, walked twice, scored twice and drove in two runs. Avery Bennefeld added two hits as part of VCSU’s 11-hit performance.

 

VCSU 8, Presentation College 3
The Vikings competed the doubleheader sweep in game two, taking control with a six-run fourth inning and cruising to an 8-3 win.

Ryan Reynolds started the big inning with an RBI double, and Jayden Shipman followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0. Demeter capped the inning with a three-run home run for a 6-0 Viking lead. Chase Feller added an RBI single in the fifth inning, and Judson Seliskar had a solo home run in the top of the sixth.

Will Hlady started and earned the win on the mound, pitching five innings. The right-hander allowed five hits and three runs, walked six and struck out eight. Veneman pitched two perfect innings to finish off the 8-3 victory.

Demeter went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Reynolds was also 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Shipman drove in two runs as one of six Vikings who each had one hit.