Vikings salvage win at Jewell

Junior Jay Walkup didn't get the decision, despite not allowing an earned run in over six innings of work, but scored the winning run for the Vikings. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

LIBERTY -- The Missouri Valley College baseball team got a couple of key hits at the right time Tuesday to prevent being swept in its Heart of America Conference twinbill at William Jewell.

The Vikings trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh inning of the getaway game, but senior Nate Combs doubled and scored for the second time in the game on sophomore Ian Gray's pinch single.

Junior Jay Walkup walked in the top of the eighth and came in with what would prove the winning run on sophomore Damon Owen's grounder.

Walkup got the start for Valley, allowing only five hits and no earned runs before getting in trouble in the bottom of the seventh.

Senior Joaquin Lopez relieved, got the final two outs without surrendering a run, then blanked the Cardinals in the eighth to earn the 3-2 victory.

Jewell (32-11, 20-8 HAAC) cruised to a 4-0 win in the opener behind a four-hit shutout from senior right-hander Jake Jorn.

The Cardinals, in second place in the conference standings, scored solo runs in the first and fourth innings and two more tallies in the fifth.

Senior Cody Hanneken had two of the Vikings' four hits, including a double, while senior Jeff Syrop and junior Jer Atkinson combined in limiting Jewell to five hits and didn't issue a walk.

Valley (13-28, 12-20) will be at home for four games Friday and Saturday against league-leading Lindenwood.