Vikings Split Sat in Softball

ABERDEEN, S.D. (VCSU)– The Valley City State softball team split a pair of games Saturday as they concluded play at the Presentation College Dome Classic.

The Vikings dropped the first game to No. 22 Morningside College, 7-1.

Valley City State then utilized a strong sixth inning to pick up a comeback win over Dakota State in their final game of the weekend, 9-8.

The Vikings are now 2-6 overall this season.

UP NEXT: Valley City State plays four games next Saturday and Sunday at the Minot State Dome Tournament.

Morningside 7, VCSU 1
Morningside College scored in four different innings to total seven runs in Saturday’s win over the Vikings.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth, Valley City State scored on a two-out double from Autumn Perry, driving in Joelle Aiello to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Morningside’s Ellie Cropley responded with a two-out, 2-run home run to extend their lead in the bottom of the inning. The Mustangs added three runs in the bottom of the fifth to lock in the 7-1 victory over the Vikings.

Joelle Lamontagne pitched a complete game and took the loss for Valley City State. She gave up five earned runs on nine hits while walking two and striking out three.

Autumn Perry recorded two hits and an RBI while Aiello added two hits for the Vikings.

VCSU 9, Dakota State 8
Five runs were scored in the first inning Saturday as Dakota State took an early 3-2 lead.

With Valley City State trailing by three in the bottom of the fifth, Sierra Crocker hit a solo home run to cut the Viking deficit to 6-4.

The Vikings struck big in the sixth inning when they scored five runs on four hits to take their first lead of the game, 9-6. Aiello and Autumn Perry each recorded an RBI single while Gronau scored on a sac fly from Jayme Menard. The Trojans also walked in a run and allowed Keana Harmon to score on a wild throw error.

Dakota State’s Nicole Stewart hit a 2-run home run in the top of the seventh but the Trojans could not get closer as the Vikings took the win, 9-8.

Starting pitcher Amber Stewart picked up the win for the Vikings while Lamontagne earned the save. Stewart allowed four earned runs on eight hits, walked nine batters and struck out two.

Aiello went 2-for-4 and recorded two RBIs in the game. Menard, Crocker, Perry, Harmon, and Marissa Hawkins each added an RBI for the Vikings.