MADISON, S.D. – The Valley City State baseball team battled conference leader Dakota State University on Sunday, opening a four-game set in Madison, S.D.
 
Dakota State rallied late in game one for a 5-3 win over the Vikings. In game two, the Trojans broke a tight game open late for a 7-1 win.
 
Valley City State drops to 11-27 overall and 7-15 in conference play. Dakota State improves to 31-13 overall and 21-1 in conference play.
 
Up next: The Vikings and Trojans rematch on Monday with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. in Madison, S.D.
 
Dakota State 5, VCSU 3
Adam Thompson and Jaden Babiuk hit back-to-back two-out RBI doubles in the third inning and Valley City State took a 2-1 lead early. The Vikings tacked on another run in the sixth to take a 3-1 advantage
 
Dakota State responded with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game at 3-3, and then took the lead for good with two more unearned runs in the eighth inning. Four of Dakota State’s five runs were unearned.
 
Babiuk led the Viking offense with a pair of hits and an RBI. Thompson was 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and both Drew Nixon and Jay Greuel each had a hit.
 
Hunter Magnuson turned in a solid start for the Vikings, working 5 2/3 innings. He allowed just three hits and three runs – only one of which was earned.  Magnuson walked two and struck out three. Keeton Clark and Jace Hanson both pitched in relief. Clark took the loss after working 1 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and two unearned runs.
 
Dakota State 7, VCSU 1
The Trojans scored five runs in the sixth inning, breaking open a close game en route to a 7-1 victory.
 
Jaden Babiuk was 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Jay Greuel was 1-for-1 with an RBI for the Vikings. Daniel Alvarado started on the mound and went five innings, giving up six hits and four runs. He walked three and struck out three. Carter Dodd pitched an inning of relief.