MAYVILLE – The Valley City State softball team swept Thursday’s doubleheader over Mayville State, 11-0 and 11-7, after five different Vikings homered on the day.

Maddy Zander pitched a 1-hit shutout as the Vikings defeated the Comets 11-0 in six innings. VCSU then followed up with an 11-7 victory in game two that featured four Viking home runs.

The Vikings and Comets are slated to round out the 4-game series on Saturday in Mayville, weather permitting. First pitch of the doubleheader is at 2 p.m.

VCSU 11, Mayville 0 (6 innings)
VCSU defeated Mayville 11-0 in six innings with the help of Zander’s performance in the circle. She allowed just one hit in the game and struck out six Comets.

The Viking offense took care of the rest, scoring three runs in the fourth inning and eight more in the sixth. Sierra Crocker’s 3-run homer rounded out scoring for VCSU. Crocker now totals 33 career home runs to tie current graduate assistant Riley Perryman for the VCSU career home run record.

Zander went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs and three RBI Thursday. Saige Forseth and Logan Gronberg each added two hits and scored a run for VCSU. Zander, Forseth, Kennadi Stone and Alyssa DePoorter each doubled in the game, and Crocker added a 3-run home run.

Mayville’s  Emily Haines got the loss after starting in the circle and working 5 and 2/3 innings. She allowed six runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out four. Lacey Mathiowetz pitched 1/3 inning in relief and allowed five runs on four hits and walked one. Madison Terres had Mayville’s only hit of the game.

VCSU 11, Mayville 7
The Vikings held on to their momentum into an 11-7 victory as VCSU totaled 13 hits, three doubles and four home runs in the game. Ashlyn Diemert led off with a double and the Vikings took an early lead with a 2-run home run by Gronberg.

Mayville took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the third on an Erika Howell 2-run single to hold a 4-3 advantage. VCSU answered in the top of the fourth with a solo homer by Zander to take the lead for good. Forseth added a 3-run homer and DePoorter followed with a solo shot for the Vikings in the fifth inning.

Mayville made a late comeback attempt with a 2-run double by Terres and RBI double from Howell, but the Vikings held on for the road win.

Logan Gronberg picked up the win in the circle after pitching 4 and 2/3 innings in relief. She allowed three runs on six hits, walked one and struck out five. Rhyan Sigmeth started for VCSU and worked 2 and 1/3 innings. She allowed four runs on two hits, walked four and struck out five.

Gronberg, Forseth, Zander and DePoorter each homered in the game while Diemert, Crocker and DePoorter all doubled. Crocker went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in one run while Gronberg went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs for VCSU. DePoorter and Kennadi Stone each scored twice Thursday.

Courtney Boll got the loss for Mayville after pitching a complete game. She allowed 11 runs on 13 hits while walking two and striking out six. Howell was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and three RBI. Terres added two hits, one run and two RBI, and Alyssa Avila had two hits for the Comets.