MINOT, N.D. – The Valley City State softball team split games Sunday as they concluded play at the Minot State Dome Tournament.

The Vikings needed just six innings to take the victory over University of Providence Sunday by the 10-run rule, 21-4.

Valley City State then fell in their second game of the day to Mayville State, 10-5.

The Vikings are now 3-9 this season. Valley City State travels to Tucson, Ariz. to play eight games March 5-9. The Vikings open play against Mount Marty College on Thursday, March 5 at 10 a.m. CT.

Valley City State 21, University of Providence 4
The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in their defeat of the Argos Sunday. An RBI single from Marissa Hawkins put the Vikings on the board first, followed by a three-run home run from Riley Perryman.

A two-run double from Hawkins in the second inning allowed the Vikings to build upon their lead. An Argo error allowed Madison Gronau to score another run, followed by a two-run double from Autumn Perry that put the Vikings up 9-1 after just three innings of play.

Providence would score three runs over the next two innings as they still trailed the Vikings 9-4.

Valley City State exploded in the sixth inning for 12 runs on 10 hits Sunday. In the sixth inning alone, Renee Snyder, Kailee Fraser, Sierra Crocker, Perryman, Keana Harmon, and Gronau each collected RBI singles while Autumn Perry and Joelle Aiello each added RBI doubles for the Vikings.

The Vikings expired three straight batters in the bottom of the sixth to seal the 10-run rule victory over the Argos.

Joelle Lamontagne started in the circle for the Vikings and pitched a complete game Sunday. She gave up four runs on eight hits and walked only two.

Perry went 5-for-5 including two doubles and three RBIs for the Vikings. Perryman added four RBIs while Hawkins contributed three. Crocker, Harmon, Fraser, Hawkins, Gronau, Snyder, and Perryman added two hits each for the Vikings.

Providence's Kayla Moore took the loss for the Argos, giving up six runs on six hits and walking one.

Hannah VanDomelen and Hanna Tarum each had two hits and one RBI in Sunday's game against the Vikings. Skyla Minert went 3-for-3 and scored two runs for the Argos.

Mayville State 10, Valley City State 5
In their second game of the day, a Mayville State two-run home run in the first inning put the Comets ahead of the Vikings early.

Valley City State scored two runs in the bottom of the third to trail by just a run at 3-2.

The Comets scored seven runs over the last three innings to lead 10-2 in the middle of the seventh.

Sierra Crocker doubled to start the bottom of the seventh for the Vikings. Riley Perryman collected an RBI single to put the Vikings back on the board. Renee Snyder's RBI double scored Harmon and Perryman but that would be as close as the Vikings could get, falling to Mayville State 10-5.

Amber Stewart started in the circle and took the loss for the Vikings. She pitched a complete game and gave up 10 runs on 15 hits while striking out seven and did not walk a batter.

Crocker and Harmon each tallied three hits against the Comets. Aiello, Hawkins, Perryman, and Gronau added two hits each while Snyder added two RBIs for the Vikings.

Annika Seedborg pitched a complete game for the Comets and picked up the win. She allowed five runs on 16 hits and struck out four.

Dayna Guttierez and Mackenzie Duval each had three hits for the Comets. Shaye Kemball and Tao Yamamoto each had two hits and two RBIs, while Jocelyn Ontiveros added three RBIs Sunday.