Jimmies close out fall season with 7-1 win over VCSU

A three-run first inning provided the necessary offense while Dru Fitz (SR/Gresham, OR) allowed just one run over five innings Sunday as the University of Jamestown baseball team defeated Valley City State (N.D.) University 7-1 at Jack Brown Stadium.

It was the final game of the fall for UJ, which improves its record to 2-4. The Vikings fall to 3-3.

Kendall Yackley (SO/Lynnwood, WA) (wild pitch) and Grant Okawa (SR/Mississauga, ON) (passed ball) scored for UJ without the benefit of a hit. Matt Meraz (SR/Aurora, CO) made it 3-0 with a single scoring Tayler Cullen (JR/Santa Rosa, Calif.).

Avery Bennefeld homered on the second pitch of the third inning to make it a 3-1 game, but Fitz was able to get out of the inning without any further damage.

Okawa's solo home run leading off the bottom of the fifth put Jamestown back in front by three runs at 4-1.

UJ tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Tanner Shepard (JR/Grand Rapids, MN), Brian Rice (JR/Vancouver, WA), and Nolan Turin (SO/Sandy, OR) all crossed the plate.

Fitz, who allowed five hits in his five innings of work, struck out three and walked one, and was boosted by a strong effort from the bullpen. Cameron Multer (FR/Greeley, CO) struck out five in three innings, while Aaron Pugh (SR/Boissevain, MB, Canada) retired the side in order in the top of the ninth. VCSU's last hit came with two outs in the fifth, and Jimmie pitchers retired the next 14 hitters.

Shepard finished 3-for-4 while Okawa and Meraz also had a pair of hits. Braxton Hewitt (SO/Carrington, ND) and Michael Asahara (SO/Spanaway, Wash.) also drove in runs for the Jimmies.

University of Jamestown 7, Valley City State 1

VCSU 001 000 000 -- 1 5 0

UJ 300 010 030 -- 7 10 0

Dru Fitz, Cameron Multer (6), Aaron Pugh (9). W -- Fitz. L -- Chase Feller.

Highlights: VC, Carter Dodd 1-3, Avery Bennefeld 1-3, RBI, Colton Berg 1-3; Feller 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 1 K; Reed Butz 3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K; Tyler Kliniske 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K; Marcus Niemann 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K; Wes Johnson 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.

UJ, Tanner Shepard 3-4, Matt Meraz 2-3, RBI, Grant Okawa 2-4, RBI; Dru Fitz 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K; Cameron Multer 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 K; Aaron Pugh 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 K.