Sports : Vikes follow extra inning win with shutout to sweep W Dubuque

Darrin Charlier's squeeze bunt drove in the winning run in the 8th inning for V-S.

Carson Struve started Game 1 for Vikings May 27.

Taylor Leyden got the win for the Vikings in Game 1.

Vikings celebrate 8th-inning win after Carson Struve scored on squeeze bunt by Darrin Charlier.

Sophomore Darrin Charlier drove in Carson Struve for the winning run with a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Vinton-Shellsburg an 8-7 win in a three-hour extra-inning game against Western Dubuque Thursday evening in Vinton. 

Senior pitchers Carson Struve and Taylor Leyden took to the mound in Game 1. Leyden relieved Struve in the third inning and got the win.

"Taylor really battled out of some tough situations,"' said Coach Jim Struve. "He showed toughness in making critical pitches in critical situations. He really competed, along with our whole team."

Coach Struve said the close game offered many of the younger players some much-needed varsity experiences. 

"Last night's games were good for our experience. We were lacking in varsity game experience and we had some pressure situations that will help us down the road. I like how our team responded," he said.

After the three-hour opener, sophomore Bryce Burroughs did his part to shorten Game 2, keeping the Bobcats scoreless as he pitched a complete game shutout in his varsity debut. The Vikings won that game, 5-0, taking just over 90 minutes to get the victory.

"Bryce was a tremendous lift for our team," said Struve. "He was not nervous at all and pitched a fantastic game." 

Burroughs' control was the major factor, said Struve. He struck out six, walked only one, and gave up just four hits. Only one Bobcat runner reached third base.

"His control was real critical to his success. He was getting ahead of hitters and keeping them off-balance with his off-speed stuff," said Struve.

The sweep lets the Vikings improve their record to 4-1. Their next game is a Memorial Day double-header at home against Benton Community.