VALLEY CITY -- Dickinson State's baseball team got help from its bats and its arms in a doubleheader sweep over Valley City State in Dakota Athletic Conference games Saturday.
The Blue Hawks blew past the Vikings 16-2 in Game 1 and won Game 2 by a 3-1 score.
"The pitchers did throw well and that was good to see," DSU head coach Duane Monlux said.
DSU (21-11, 8-2 DAC) scored seven runs in the first. Designated hitter Willie Sandez hit a two-RBI double to right to put the Blue Hawks up 3-0. Shortstop Derrick Gunderson added a two-RBI single up the middle.
"Their guys struggled with the strike zone and they had some errors," Monlux said.
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The Blue Hawks went on to score four runs in the fifth and five in the seventh. Right fielder Nolan Bracken had a two-RBI single in the seventh.
Julian Ramirez picked up the win and didn't give up an earned run. He struck out six and walked two.
Game 2 was a tighter affair as DSU scored a run in the first and held a one-run lead until the fourth when it added another run.
Center fielder Kade Larson scored on an error in the first. Sandez's deep single to left-center scored DSU's second run.
First baseman Mike Nash added an insurance run in the sixth with a RBI single.
Ryan Saunders picked up the win for DSU. He didn't give up an earned run, had eight strikeouts and walked one.
"We were able to scratch and claw, and get three runs out of it," Monlux said.
DSU takes on the Vikings (4-28, 0-10) in another doubleheader today at noon and 3 p.m.
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DSU 700 040 5 -- 16 11 2
VCSU 110 000 0 -- 2 3 4
Julian Ramirez and Chris Young. Derek Zitzow, Alex Beach (6), Michael Danielson (7) and Justin Connell. W-Ramirez (4-2). L-Zitzow.
Highlights: DSU, Liam Foran, 3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 R, Willie Sandez, 2-for-5, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R, Derrick Gunderson, 2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 R, Ramirez, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 6 SO, 2 BB. VCSU, Danielson, 1-for-3, RBI.
Records: DSU (20-11, 7-2 DAC), VCSU (4-27, 0-9).
DSU 100 101 0 -- 3 10 2
VCSU 000 001 0 -- 1 5 2
Ryan Saunders and Chris Young. Shane Schoenberg and Justin Connel, Dylan Carlson. W-Saunders (3-4). L-Schoenberg. HR-School, Name.
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Highlights: DSU, Mike Nash, 3-for-3, RBI, 1 R, Kade Larson, 2-for-4, 1 R, Saunders, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 8 SO, 1 BB.
Records: DSU (21-11, 8-2), VCSU (4-28, 0-10)
