MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (VCSU<\/a>) \u2013 The Valley City State baseball team split a late-night doubleheader Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium.<\/p>\n The Viking offense put together eight hits and seven runs in game one, and Marcus Niemann<\/a> pitched six strong innings in VCSU’s 7-1 victory. In game two, which actually started at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning, Midland University scored five runs in the sixth inning to rally for a 6-2 win over the Vikings.<\/p>\n Valley City State ended the four-game series with a 1-3 record against Midland. The Vikings are now 5-8 overall. Midland University is now 10-9.<\/p>\n Up next: <\/strong>Valley City State is scheduled to play a four-game series at Mount Marty University on March 13-14.<\/p>\n VCSU 7, Midland 1<\/strong><\/u> The Viking offense collected eight hits and seven runs \u2013 their best output in the four-game series.<\/p>\n VCSU struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning. Gedeon Ellis<\/a> led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a fly ball, and then scored on Jorun Hamre<\/a>‘s grounder to third base. After Midland tied the game 1-1, the Vikings tacked on three more runs in the second inning, taking advantage of two Midland errors.<\/p>\n VCSU put the game out of reach with two more runs in the fourth inning \u2013 getting RBI’s from Gage Wherley<\/a> and Adam Thompson<\/a> \u2013 and a solo home run by Drew Nixon<\/a> in the sixth inning.<\/p>\n Ellis went 2-for-4 and scored twice out of the leadoff position to pace the Viking lineup. Six other Vikings had one hit, including Nixon’s solo home run.<\/p>\n William Hlady<\/a> pitched the seventh inning for VCSU, striking out two and allowing just one hit.<\/p>\n Midland 6, VCSU 2<\/strong><\/u> Suda gave up just one hit and an unearned run in his five innings of work, walking three and striking out four. The Vikings held a 2-0 lead entering the top of the sixth inning before Midland rallied for five runs in the frame.<\/p>\n David Demeter<\/a>‘s RBI single scored Ryan Reynolds<\/a> for an early 1-0 lead in the third inning. The Vikings extended it to 2-0 when JT Reed<\/a> singled and later scored on a throwing error in the fourth inning.<\/p>\n Midland took the lead with a five-run sixth inning, getting just two hits but taking advantage of an error, a walk and two hit batters.<\/p>\n
\nViking pitcher Marcus Niemann<\/a> scattered six hits and allowed just one run in six strong innings on the mound Friday night. The right-hander struck out two and walked two en route to his first victory of the season.<\/p>\n
\nMatthew Suda<\/a> pitched five strong innings for VCSU in the finale, but a late rally by Midland University handed the Vikings a 6-2 loss.<\/p>\n