The top two teams in North Star softball went blow-for-blow Saturday as they opened their four-game series with a doubleheader split in Valley City.

No. 9-ranked Valley City State won game one, 9-6, before Bellevue University handed the Vikings their first conference loss in game two by a score of 7-4.

Valley City State is now 29-2 overall and 9-1 in the North Star Athletic Association. Bellevue moves to 25-13 overall and 8-2 in the NSAA.

Up next: The Vikings and Bruins conclude their four-game series Sunday with another doubleheader at 1 p.m. in Valley City.

VCSU 9, Bellevue 6
Valley City State scored five runs in the third inning of game one, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 advantage en route to the game one victory.

Joelle Aiello, Voni Culp and Emily Smith opened the big inning with three straight singles, setting the Vikings up to take the lead for good. Culp scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 3-3 and then pinch runner Madison Gronau scored on Autumn Perry's sacrifice fly for a 4-3 lead. Kadie Anderson capped the inning with a two-run single to left-field, putting the Vikings ahead 6-3.

Bellevue cut the Viking lead to 6-5 with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but Valley City State tacked on three more runs in the fifth inning to keep the Bruins at bay.

Culp finished with three hits, including a triple, an RBI and a run to lead the Viking attack. VCSU totaled 11 hits in the victory. Kadie Anderson and Jayme Menard each had a pair of hits and two RBIs.

Emily Smith started in the circle for VCSU and went three innings, allowing three hits and three runs. She walked two and struck out four. Emilee Wilson pitched the final four innings in relief to pick up the win. Wilson gave up six hits and three runs. She walked only two and struck out five.

Erin Sharpe and Emily Rochford each hit home runs for Bellevue, which totaled nine hits. Rochford drove in two runs, while Sharpe, Ashley Young and Maricela Egan each had two hits.

Sharpe took the loss as Bellevue's starting pitcher, allowing eight hits and six runs. Rochford pitched the final three innings, giving up three hits and three runs – only one of which was earned.

Bellevue 7, VCSU 4
Bellevue scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning, building a 7-3 lead as the Bruins handed VCSU its first conference loss of the season in game two.

Maricela Egan's two-run triple started the scoring in the fourth inning, giving the Bruins a 4-3 advantage. Emily Rochford drove in the third run, and then Ellie Bliemeister capped the big inning with a two-run home run to put the Bruins up 7-3.

Bellevue finished with nine hits while the Vikings had seven. Bliemeister and Sharpe both homered for the Bruins, and Bliemeister, Ashley Young and Emily Rochford each had two hits.

Brieanna Brock pitched a complete game for Bellevue, scattering seven hits and four runs. She walked one and struck out three.

Voni Culp went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for VCSU. Emily Smith had two hits and drove in two runs.

Amber Stewart started and took the loss for VCSU, giving up five hits and six runs over three innings. She did not walk anyone and struck out six. Emily Smith and Emilee Wilson both pitched in relief.