BISMARCK, N.D. – The Mystics welcomed the Valley City State Vikings to Bismarck Municipal Ballpark on a beautiful Wednesday evening for a fall NAIA Baseball matchup.

Starting on the mound for the Mystics was Cole Shirley, and toeing the rubber opposite him for the Vikings was Takao Cookson. Both pitchers were making their first start of the young season. 

The scoring for this one started early and came in bunches. The Vikings struck in the top of the first, getting two across on an Alexis Velasco RBI double, followed by a Kaden Rozdeba single and a Mystic error to allow Velasco to score.

The Mystics responded in the bottom of the first, where it was Cole Shirley doing his best Shohei Ohtani impression and providing his own run support with a three-run blast that cleared the 388' sign in left-center field.

The Vikings would tie it up in the top of the second when an error allowed an unearned run to come in, but the Mystics responded in a huge was in the bottom of the third. The bats caught fire and the Mystics plated nine runs in the inning.

Alec Vincent started the chaotic inning when he came up with the bases loaded and delivered a double to right center field to drive in all three baserunners. Evan Fuchs delivered a two-RBI double shortly after with a frozen rope into left field. 

Kaeden Wilcox got his opportunity with the bases loaded later in the inning, and he too delivered by driving the ball deep to straightaway centerfield and making it all the way to third for a bases-clearing triple. Brayden Bunnell put a bow on the inning by bringing Wilcox home with an RBI single. 

The Vikings were able to get a couple of runs back in the top of the sixth Cam Pero recorded an RBI triple and immediately came home on a Mystic balk. The favor was returned in the next inning as the Mystics got one run back on a Viking balk.

The Vikings got another run in the top of the ninth thanks to a Cody Wielgosh single, but the game was all but over at that point, as River Walters induced a double-play for the final outs and recorded a rare three-inning save, his first save of the season.

Picking up the win in relief was Kayden Camacho, who went the middle three innings, only allowing two runs while striking out four. Shirley was able to go the first three innings, only allowing two earned runs before giving way to the bullpen, while remaining in the game as the designated hitter.

Next action for the Mystics comes on Monday, Sept. 29 as they head to the University of Jamestown for a 6 p.m. scrimmage. They return home for a doubleheader on Friday, Oct. 3 against the Dickinson State Blue Hawks. First pitch for that game is set for 2 p.m. from Veteran's Memorial Ballpark in Mandan.
 
 

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