Tucson, ARIZ. – The Valley City State softball team took down the No. 14 team in the nation Wednesday as Maddy Zander delivered a clutch 2-run double to help the Vikings defeat Northwestern College 4-3.
 
The Vikings finished the day with a split after falling 10-1 to Ottawa University Arizona in five innings.
 
VCSU is now 8-11 overall and close out play at the Tucson Invitational Games on Thursday. VCSU will face Concordia University (Neb.) at 10 a.m. CT and Mount Mary University at 2:30 p.m. CT.
 
VCSU 4, #14 Northwestern 3
The Vikings handed the Raiders just its second loss of the season Wednesday in a game that started as a pitcher’s duel between Joelle Lamontagne and Kate Kralik.
 
After 4 1/2 scoreless innings, Northwestern broke the drought on Kameryn Etherington’s 2-run double. The Raiders added another run to lead 3-0 after five complete innings.
 
The Vikings answered in the top of the sixth though, loading the bases with a double by Makenzee Stone, a single from Ellie Braaten and a walk by Andrea Rodriguez. Logan Gronberg drove in a run with a base-hit and Sierra Crocker drew a walk to score another. With two outs, Maddy Zander delivered a 2-run double to put the Vikings ahead 4-3. The Raiders put two runners on to threaten the Vikings in the bottom of the seventh but VCSU’s defense held on for the win.
 
Lamontagne picked up the win in the circle after pitching a complete game for the Vikings. She allowed three runs on seven hits and walked two. Makenzee Stone tallied two hits with a double and scored a run. Rodriguez, Braaten and Avery Kuklinski each scored a run for the Vikings.
 
Northwestern’s Kralik finished with her first loss of the season in the circle. She pitched 6 complete innings and allowed four runs on five hits while walking two and striking out three. Tatum Schmalbeck pitched the final inning and allowed just one hit while striking out three batters.
 
Ottawa University Arizona 10, VCSU 1 (5 innings)
Ottawa University Arizona then scored 10 runs – only four of which were earned – on nine hits as the Spirit defeated VCSU 10-1 by mercy rule. The Vikings totaled four defensive errors in the game.
 
Gronberg and Stone each singled, and DePoorter doubled in the game. Zander got the loss in the circle after pitching all 5 innings. She allowed 10 runs on eight hits while walking four and striking out four.
 
Elysa Moreno led the way with three hits and two runs for OUAZ while Emily Henard and Karlene Chavarria each added two hits for the Spirit. Brooklynne Esquibel added a bases-clearing triple for OUAZ.
 
Alivia Hernandez got the win for the Spirit after starting in the circle and working 4 complete innings. She allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out two. Leila Elias pitched an inning in relief and allowed one hit and recorded one strikeout.