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CITY (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State University baseball earned a four-game split with Mayville State University after winning the series finale on Monday night, 3-1 in Valley City.

After playing three games on Sunday, the Vikings and Comets wrapped up their four-game conference series with a 9-inning game on Monday. Valley City State University took advantage of two Comet errors to score three unearned runs in the fifth inning, and then relied on pitching and defense the rest of the way to secure the victory.

Valley City State improves to 8-17 overall and is now 2-2 in the North Star Athletic Association. Mayville State, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, drops to 18-6 overall and 2-2 in the NSAA.

All the scoring happened in the fifth inning Monday night. The Comets struck first with a single run in the top half of the inning. Jonathan Folena opened the inning with a double, and Brady Nygaard followed with an RBI single to put the Comets on top 1-0. Viking pitcher Andrew Hirsch settled down though and retired the next three batters in order to work out of the inning.

The Vikings answered right back in the bottom of the inning, helped by a pair of Comet errors. Ryan Sand reached on a one-out walk and Jared Meiklejohn followed with a single to put runners on first and second. A dropped fly ball in right field loaded the bases up for the Vikings. Mayville State got a force out at home for out number two, but a wild pitch allowed Meiklejohn to score from third and tie the game at 1-1. Brady Anderson was then intentionally walked to load the bases again. Tyler Ukestad followed with a ground ball up the middle that was bobbled by the second baseman, allowing both Anthony Necochea and Emmanuel Leyva to score for a 3-1 lead.

Mayville State would threaten in the top of the ninth inning, putting the tying run on first base, but Max Koprek struck out Brady Nygaard with a nasty curve ball to end the game.

Koprek pitched the final three innings for VCSU, picking up the save. He gave up just three hits an struck out three. Andrew Hirsch earned the win after pitching the fifth and sixth inning. He allowed hits to his first two batters, but set down the next six he faced in order. Steven Velarde started and pitched four innings for the Vikings, striking out three. He gave up five hits, walked one and hit three, but worked around trouble in almost every inning and did not allow a run.

Mayville State outhit the Vikings 10-4 in the game. Meiklejohn, Ukestad, Nate Soulis and Nate Bagby all had one hit for the Vikings. Meiklejohn was on fire defensively for VCSU, recording seven assists and four putouts from the shortstop position.

Alexander Roosen took the loss for Mayville after allowing three hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out two. Jacob Torgerson pitched 3 1/3 innings out of the bullpen, giving up just one hit and no runs.

Jonathan Folena went 2-for-4 with a run and two doubles for Mayville State. Brady Nygaard was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Up next: Valley City State will play a non-conference game Wednesday at the University of Minnesota-Morris. First pitch is at 2 p.m. The Vikings will host University of Winnipeg for a four-game conference series on Saturday and Sunday.