Viterbo offense erupts in win over No. 2 seed Dakota State at NSAA Tournament

FOREST CITY, Iowa – The Viterbo University Baseball team had an offensive eruption in the first inning of their North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Conference Tournament opening game. The V-Hawks scored five runs in the top of the first against No. 2-seed Dakota State University.

The V-Hawks began the game with back-to-back hits from Cody Wells and Kendal Hofer before getting back-to-back RBI's on a ground out and a double from Blake Warner and Cole Benson. Marcus Hornacek kept the hits coming with a single to put runners on first and third with one out. Zach Braun followed with a single that ended up scoring two runners after a throwing error. With runners on second and third, Remy Stern stepped up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to right field. On the eighth batter of the inning, Collin Hucke singled to put the V-Hawks up 5-0 out of the gates.

The offense did not stop in the first for the V-Hawks. In the top of the third, Benson led off the inning with a single before Hornacek laid down a sacrifice bunt. Braun followed with a double to center, scoring Benson. Stern stepped up next and hit a double, but the pinch runner, Myles Zimdars, could only advance to third on the ball in the air. Brandon Good came through with a two RBI single to cap the three-run inning for Viterbo to make it 8-0 after three innings.

V-Hawk starter, Brandon Jaenke, had a no-hitting going through four innings and had an ending line of seven innings pitched, seven strikeouts, five hits, and one earned run. Alec Danen came on in relief in the eighth and closed the game, allowing one hit and striking out two.

The Viterbo Baseball team will continue on the winner's half of the NSAA Tournament bracket tonight. The V-Hawks are set to face No. 3-seed, Dickinson State University, at 7:00 PM CDT. Follow the action on our website or by following us on social media.