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VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vscuvikings.com) – Valley City State University scored 12 early runs Sunday as the Vikings eliminated Mayville State from the North Star Baseball Championships with a 13-2 Viking victory.

Valley City State pounded out 10 hits and 12 runs through the first four innings, building a 12-0 lead in the loser-out game at Charlie Brown Memorial Baseball Field in Valley City. The game ended after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

Valley City State (20-23) advances to play Waldorf University in a loser-out game Sunday at approximately 5 p.m. The winner of that game will face Bellevue University in the championship game Monday at 11 a.m. Waldorf or VCSU would need to defeat Bellevue twice to claim the NSAA championship.

Mayville State is eliminated from the tournament and ends its season with a 19-25 overall record.

The Vikings put up eight runs in the first and second innings for a big cushion early in the loser-out game. Brady Smith hit a 2-run home run in the top of the first inning for a 2-0 lead. The Vikings added six more runs in the second inning, including a pinch-hit 2-run single by Nate Soulis and a monster 3-run home run by Grant Wehseler that landed deep beyond the left-field fence. Wehseler’s blast capped the big inning and put VCSU up 8-0.

That big early lead allowed the Vikings to pull ace pitcher Jacob Rosales after just one inning of work. Rosales will likely come back to pitch the 5 p.m. loser-out game against Waldorf University. Junior right-hander Jacob Miller took over in the bottom of the second inning and put together six strong innings for the Vikings. Miller earned the win as he gave up just five hits and two runs, with the only real blemish being a two-run home run by Brandt Wood in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Mayville State starter Parker Stohr took the loss after allowing five hits and six runs before being lifted in the second inning.

VCSU leadoff hitter Christian Peery was a perfect 4-for-4 with a walk. He scored three runs and had one RBI. Wehseler was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs and three RBIs. Wehseler doubled and homered in the victory. Brady Smith was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and three RBIs – including a 2-run home run.

Six different Comets had a hit, with Wood recording a 2-run home run.