Jamestown – The VCSU baseball season came to an end during a wild second day of the NSAA Baseball Championships in Jamestown.

The Vikings rallied from three-run deficits in both the ninth and 10th innings Saturday as they eliminated Viterbo University with a wild 17-13 victory, getting a walk-off grand slam from Aiden Brook as the final blow in an offensive slugfest.

Later in the day, Valley City State had its season come to an end during a 9-2 loss to No. 3 seed University of Jamestown.

Valley City State ends the season with a 15-30 overall record.

VCSU 17, Viterbo University 13 (10 innings)

The Vikings scored 13 of their 17 runs over the final four innings as the two teams combined for 20 total runs from the seventh inning on.

VCSU trailed 6-4 after six innings, but took their first lead at 7-6 after getting three runs in the bottom of the seventh, including a two-run home run by Nate Soulis.

Viterbo answered right back with four runs in the top of the eighth to take a 10-7 lead. The Vikings did not score in the eighth, sending them to their last at-bat trailing by three runs. With one run in and the bases loaded, Brook delivered a two-run single to right field to tie the game at 10-10. VCSU attempted to score the winning run on the same play, but runner Ben Baasch was thrown out at home to end the threat and force extra innings.

VCSU’s momentum was short-lived however as Viterbo put up three runs in the top of the 10th inning, again sending the Vikings to their last at-bat down three runs at 13-10.

Soulis opened the 10th with a solo home run – his second blast of the day – to trim the lead to 13-11. Austin Smith followed with a single and eventually came in score on an RBI single by Emmanuel Leyva. With the bases loaded, Tyler Ukestad then delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 13-13, but Leyva was thrown out at home trying to score the winning run. A single and force-out loaded the bases with two outs and brought Brook to the plate, where he took the first pitch over the left-field fence for a walk-off grand slam.

Brook finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs and seven RBIs, including six RBIs in the last two innings. Soulis and Austin Smith both went 4-for-5 as the bottom three batters in VCSU’s order combined to go 11-for-15 with three home runs, seven runs and 10 RBIs.

Leyva added three hits and two RBIs. Grant Wehseler also homered and drove in two runs.

Jordon Roos started on the mound for VCSU and battled through 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and six runs. Chase Carpenter and Max Koprek both pitched in relief. Brady Engebretson came on to get the final out in the 10th inning and picked up the win after VCSU’s big 10th-inning rally.

 

University of Jamestown 9, VCSU 2

Jamestown scored in each of the first four innings during the second loser-out game of the day, ending VCSU’s season with a 9-2 victory.

The Jimmies built a 7-1 lead after four innings and then coasted down the stretch for the win. Valley City State finished with eight hits in the game, scoring runs in the third and sixth innings on solo home runs from Brady Smith and Brennen Neva.

Nicholas Vargas took the loss for VCSU after starting and allowing eight hits and four runs in 2 2/3 innings. Jacob Miller and Shaun Kourajian both pitched two innings in relief, and Jesse Johnson came on for a scoreless eighth inning for VCSU.

Smith and Brook each had a pair of hits for VCSU’s offense, and both Neva and Smith hit solo home runs for VCSU’s two runs.