The Comet Baseball team stayed in it until the end, but Valley City State was able to pull away late in a 7-2 victory on Wednesday night. The game was tied at one apiece with the Vikings batting in the bottom of the seventh when an error scored one run for the Vikings opened the flood gates for VCSU.

The Vikings ended up sending 11 batters to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, using four hits and three Mayville State errors to score six runs to give Valley City the win.

The Vikings started the scoring with a single run in the first inning with a hit batsman and two infield singles to load the bases with no outs, then Nate Soulis drove in Brady Smith with a sac fly to kick off the scoring 1-0. 

From there, the teams settled into a pitcher's duel. Shaun Kourajian started and pitched the first 3 2/3 innings for VCSU, giving up just one hit and no runs. Philip Almanza pitched the next 3 1/3 innings, allowing just one run and no hits. The Comets pushed across their only run against Almanza in the top of the fifth on Kyle Maunahan's sacrifice fly that tied the game at 1-1.

Tied 1-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, VCSU broke the game open. Nate Rodriquez opened the big inning with a walk, and Jayden Shipman followed with an infield single. The Vikings took the lead when Rodriguez scored on a dropped pop fly behind second base. Austin Smith drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 3-1. Nate Soulis followed with a ground ball up the middle which was misplayed by the Comets and led to two more runs. An RBI double by Emmanuel Leyva and RBI single by Kody Lane capped the rally and gave VCSU a 7-1 advantage.

Brady Engebretson pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the Vikings before Mayville State scored its second run in the ninth to make it 7-2. 

Almanza earned the win on the mound for VCSU with his 3 1/3 hitless innings of relief. Craig Broadman took the loss for Mayville after going 2 1/3 innings and giving up two hits and two runs.

Brady Nygaard and Zachary Foster collected the two hits for Mayville State with Nygaard and Kyle Maunahan each driving in a run. Tait Ludwick gave the Comets four strong innings on the mound to start the game. He allowed four hits and a run while striking out six.

Grant Wehseler, Austin Smith and Jayden Shipman all had two hits in the game for VCSU. The Vikings finished the game with seven runs and nine total hits. Mayville State scored its two runs on just two hits.