SIOUX CITY, IOWA \u2013 Phillip Almanza<\/a> and Reed Butz<\/a> both turned in strong starting pitching performances Saturday, and the Viking baseball team split a doubleheader at Morningside College.<\/p>\n Almanza struck out nine and allowed just two runs in six innings of game one, helping the Vikings to a 10-2 victory. Butz gave up just three hits and two runs in game two, but took the hard-luck loss as the Vikings were shutout 2-0.<\/p>\n Valley City State is now 4-4 overall this fall. Morningside is now 1-3. The teams will play one 7-inning game on Sunday at 12 p.m. That is VCSU’s final game of the fall season.<\/p>\n VCSU 10, Morningside 2<\/strong><\/u> The Vikings scored two runs in the second inning, two runs in the third and one more in the fourth inning to build a 5-0 lead. After Morningside cut the lead to 5-2, VCSU put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth inning.<\/p>\n Drew Nixon<\/a> went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and RBI to pace the Viking offense. David Demeter<\/a> and Ryan Reynolds<\/a> both finished 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Six different Vikings had hits and eight different Vikings scored. Chase Feller<\/a> and Jayden Shipman<\/a> both scored twice and each drove in a run. Gage Wherley<\/a> and JT Reed<\/a> each added an RBI.<\/p>\n Morningside 2, VCSU 0<\/strong><\/u> Butz started on the mound for VCSU and took the loss despite a strong performance. Butz gave up just three hits and two runs in six innings of work, walking three and striking out two.<\/p>\n Morningside took the lead with a triple and sacrifice fly in the second inning. The Mustangs added the second run with an RBI groundout in the third.<\/p>\n
\nAlmanza scattered eight hits over his six innings on the mound, striking out nine and walking just one. Marcus Niemann<\/a> pitched a scoreless seventh inning to finish off the victory.<\/p>\n
\nVCSU’s offense was held to just two hits in the second game of the doubleheader as Morningside salvaged a split.<\/p>\n