VALLEY CITY – The Valley City State University softball team broke the school record for single-season wins Wednesday, sweeping a doubleheader against Mayville State for their 41st and 42nd wins of the season.

Valley City State scored the final three runs to earn a 4-2 win in game one Wednesday, and then Emilee Wilson and Amber Stewart combined to pitch a one-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory to end the day. The Vikings completed a four-game series sweep, outscoring the Comets 17-3 over the two-day series.

The No. 7-ranked Vikings are now 42-3 overall this season and 22-2 in conference play. With four conference games remaining, VCSU leads Bellevue University (37-16, 19-5 NSAA) by three games in the NSAA standings. A combination of two VCSU wins or Bellevue losses this weekend will clinch VCSU's first conference championship since 2014.

On Wednesday, the Vikings broke the previous school record of 40 wins set by the 2016 team – on which this year's seniors were freshmen.

Mayville State drops to 21-14 overall and 14-9 in conference play. The Comets are currently third in the NSAA standings, holding a 1.5 game lead on Dickinson State entering the final weekend of play.

Up next: Valley City State plays a four-game series at Presentation College on Saturday and Sunday. Doubleheaders start at 1 p.m. both days in Aberdeen, S.D. Mayville State hosts Dickinson State for a four-game series this weekend as well.

VCSU 4, Mayville State 2
Mayville's Jade Ledochowski gave the Comets their only lead of the series with a two-run double to left field, plating Amanda Izzo and Alissa Foster for a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.

The Comet lead did not last long. Autumn Perry opened VCSU's half of the fourth inning with a double to left, moved to third on Kadie Anderson's sacrifice bunt, and then scored on Jayme Menard's single through the right side. In the fifth inning, VCSU took the lead when Voni Culp stole third base and then scored when the throw from Mayville State's catcher sailed into left field.

The Vikings added their fourth run on a similar play in the sixth inning. Kadie Anderson reached base with a one-out double, took third base on a passed ball and then scored when the Comets still tried to throw her out and the throw ended up in left field again.

Emily Smith pitched a complete game for Valley City, giving up five hits and two runs. She walked two and struck out eight en route to her 25th victory of the season.

Offensively, the Vikings tallied 10 total hits. Culp was 2-for-2 with a pair of runs, while Menard was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Autumn Perry batted 2-for-3 and scored a run, and Riley Perryman also had two hits.

Mayville State's Annika Seedborg took the loss, giving up 10 hits and four runs. She walked one and struck out three. Ledochowski led the Comets at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.

VCSU 5, Mayville State 0
Emilee Wilson pitched six no-hit innings as she and Amber Stewart combined on a one-hit shutout in game two.

Only two Mayville hitters reached base against Wilson, both gaining first base on infield throwing errors. She did not walk anyone and struck out four. Amber Stewart came on to pitch the seventh inning, striking out two and giving up one hit.

Perryman had a big game at the plate with two hits, a run and three RBIs. She singled home Culp in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead, and then blasted a two-run double in the third inning – scoring Joelle Aiello and Emily Smith to put VCSU ahead 3-0. The Vikings tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning with back-to-back RBI hits by Autumn Perry and Keana Harmon.

Aiello also had a pair of hits and scored a run. The Vikings finished with seven total hits.

Shaye Kemball took the loss for the Comets, pitching six innings and allowing seven hits and five runs. She walked one and struck out four. Jade Ledochowki had Mayville State's only hit.