JAMESTOWN, N.D. (JimmieAthletics.com) – Trailing 6-1 after three innings Wednesday night at Jack Brown Stadium, the University of Jamestown baseball team rallied for six straight runs, including the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, to defeat Valley City State (N.D.) University 7-6.
Tanner Roundy (SR/Henderson, NV) singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth and later advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Jared Bentley (JR/Washougal, WA) was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Zach Zurbrugg (SR/Bremerton, WA) laid down a sacrifice bunt towards Viking third baseman Marcus Niemann, but Niemann’s throw was off line and wide of the bag at first. Roundy came home from second to complete the comeback.
VCSU scored three times in the top of the first against UJ starter Kensaku Akiya (JR/Kawasaki, Japan), then added three more on Kody Lane’s homer to right field in the top of the third.
Lincoln Trujillo (JR/Cheyenne, WY) drove in Jamestown’s first run in the bottom of the first with a single to left.
After Roundy singled to lead off the Jimmie fourth, Jared Bentleyfollowed with a two-run home run to cut VCSU’s lead to 6-3.
Kaleb Binstock (SR/Grand Forks, ND)’s solo home run in the bottom of the fifth made the score 6-4. Jamestown got within one run an inning later as Grant Okawa (JR/Mississauga, ON) came home on a throwing error by VCSU catcher Aiden Brook.
Trujillo launched a one-out solo home run to tie the score at six in the bottom of the seventh.
Akiya left after three innings, giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits. He walked two and struck out one. Dru Fitz (JR/Gresham, OR) came on in relief and pitched 4 1/3 strong innings, scattering four hits while striking out eight. Binstock (1-0) earned the win, pitching the final 1 2/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Bentley and Jaden Yackley (SR/Lynnwood, Wash.) each had three hits for Jamestown. Trujillo and Roundy also recorded mult-hit games for UJ.
Next up for the Jimmies (1-1) is a home game September 24 against Mayville State (N.D.). First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.