Dickinson – The Viking baseball pitching staff set a new single-season strikeout record Wednesday during a non-conference doubleheader at Dickinson State.
 
VCSU pitcher Eli Chabot struck out the first Dickinson State batter of the day for the team’s 360th strikeout this season, breaking the old mark of 359 held by the 2021 Viking pitching staff.
 
The Vikings ended up dropping both sides of the doubleheader with the ball flying out of the park Wednesday. The two teams combined for 14 home runs in the doubleheader, which Dickinson State swept by scores of 19-8 and 14-6.
 
VCSU and Dickinson State will rematch in a four-game conference series on April 26-27 in Valley City.
 
Valley City State used a pitcher-by-committee approach with its bullpen arms Wednesday, saving its top starters for this weekend’s conference series against Mayville State.
 
Up next: VCSU is scheduled to play at Mayville State in a four-game series this weekend. The VCSU-MSU doubleheaders have been moved to 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday in Mayville to take advantage of warmer weather.
 
Dickinson State 19, VCSU 8
The teams combined for eight home runs in game one, including six by the Blue Hawks.
 
VCSU scored its eight runs on nine hits, while Dickinson State had 16 total hits.
 
Jay Greuel was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI to lead the VCSU offense. Dustin Mertz was 2-for-3 with a solo home run, and Cody Wielgosh hit a solo home run as well.
 
VCSU scored four runs in the second inning to take an early 4-3 lead, but Dickinson State responded with five runs in the second innings and seven more in the third inning to take control of the game.
 
Dickinson State 14, VCSU 6
The teams hit another six home runs in game two of the doubleheader. Anthony Madsen and Daegen Morcom hit back-to-back solo home runs for VCSU in the sixth inning of the 14-6 loss. The Vikings finished with 11 total hits.
 
Jamel Chabot was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Dustin Mertz went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Morcom finished with a pair of hits, including a solo home run.