DULUTH, Minn. – The BLC Vikings capped their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament run with a double-header sweep of St. Scholastica to capture their first-ever title and ticket to the NCAA Regional. The Vikings battled their way to a 4-1 record in the tournament including back-to-back wins over the Saints on day three. After a 17-7 win in game one, the Vikings grinded out a 2-1 win in game two.
 
Nick Dewanz started for the Vikings and gave a great effort on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings with four hits, one run, and four strikeouts. With Dewanz on the mound, the Vikings scored one run in the second inning for the early lead. The Saints tied the ballgame in the fifth and the Vikings made a pitching change, bringing Alex Babcock into the game. Babcock held the Saints scoreless for the rest of the game and got some great help from his defense. In the bottom of the seventh, with two runners on base and two outs for the Saints, Diego Martiarena made an amazing diving catch to end the inning and the threat.
 
John Brown started the eighth inning with a double and then took third on a wild pitch. Ross Beumer reached on a walk and then advanced to second with a steal. Walker Linde reach on a walk to load the bases for the Vikings with one out. Grant Becher hit a deep sac-fly to right field to break the tie and give the Vikings a 2-1 lead. That run would prove to be enough for the Vikings who held on for the win to capture the 2018 UMAC Tournament Championship.
 
The Vikings tallied five hits in the game with one apiece from Martiarena, Nick Caldeen, John Brown, Kevin Harris, and Ross Beumer. Babcock got credit for the win with 3.2 scoreless innings.
 
Up Next: The Vikings received the automatic bid to the NCAA Regional and the tournament is set to begin on May 17 with location, opponents, and times to be determined.