Trojans Complete Sweep of V-Hawks

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Baseball team lost a pair of games to Dakota State University (SD) on Saturday afternoon in a North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) double header, 3-13 and 2-5. The V-Hawks drop to 8-23 (6-10 NSAA), while the Trojans improve to 25-12 (16-0 NSAA).

The V-Hawks, batting in the top half due to the game being moved from Madison, SD, scored in the first on a Spencer Hans double to bring in Kendal Hofer. DSU responded with a two RBI double in the bottom of the frame, but Ryan Brooks made it home on a Hofer single in the second to even the score. The Trojans took the lead again in the third with a two-run single, and after Hans' single in the top of the fourth brought in Chad Herrera, Dakota State had a huge inning, scoring nine runs on seven hits and three VU errors. The V-Hawks would get three runners on in the top of the seventh, but could not score any more, and would fall 3-13.

Hans and Hofer led the V-Hawks offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and 2-for-3 with a single RBI, respectively. Mason Macaluso had two hits and four RBIs for DSU. Ben Strassman (0-6) recorded the loss for Viterbo, while Nicholai Arbach (W, 2-2) had four strikeouts in four innings for DSU.

Game two started with a Dakota State RBI double in the bottom of the first, followed by MArus Hornacek finding reaching home in the top of the second to even the score. Mesa scored on a wild pitch in the fourth to take the lead, but three runs in the fifth inning on two hits and an error gave the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish. They would add an extra insurance run in the sixth to secure the 2-5 win.

Five different V-Hawks would record a hit, while Jace Pribyl went 2-for-3 with an RBI for DSU. Anthony Sanchez (L, 1-2) had five strikeouts in five innings, while Luke Guest (W, 5-2) had six in six innings.

Viterbo returns to the diamond on Friday, April 14 as they travel to Mayville State University (ND).