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CITY, N.D (NewsDakota.com) In dramatic fashion the Vikings clinched victory from the jays of defeat in a 8-7 win over Dakota State in the first round of the North Star Baseball Tournament.
The Trojans got to Vikings starter, Bryce Venaas, early putting up four runs in the second inning with help from Ian Barker who hit a two run shot over the center field fence. In the same inning, Anthony Necochea would cut the lead in half with two RBI single.
The Trojans would add to their advantage with another run in the fourth inning and then two more in the fifth. In the bottom of the same frame the Vikings would start their comeback. After two quick outs, Kayl Hamre was the first to reach base with a blooper to right field. On the next at bat Tom Houdek would drop a ball into the gap in left-center field. And Brady Anderson would reach base on a walk, loading the bases for Cole Honl. The Vikings Designated Hitter would waste not time roping a shot to right field that would clear the base paths and pull the Vikings to within one.
VCSU would not tie the game until the bottom of the ninth when Anderson returned a pitch up the middle that scored Derek Elliott from second base. With the game tied at seven, the two teams would enter extra innings.
In the 11th the Vikings would once again load the bases with two outs. With Nate Bagby facing a three and one count, the Vikings second basemen would send a shoot between first and second base driving in Jared Meiklejohn for the win.
The victory advances the Vikings to the winners round of the tournament. They will play Mayville State on Saturday evening at 5pm. That game can be heard on 103.1 FM KRVX.