TUCSON, ARIZ. – The Valley City State softball team split games Monday as they concluded play at the Tucson Invitational Games.

The Vikings rallied from behind to take their first game of the day from Aquinas College, 5-4.

Valley City State then dropped their second game of the day to No. 14 Olivet Nazarene on a walkoff RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, 4-3.

Valley City State is now 6-12 overall this season. The Vikings will have a break until Saturday, March 21, when they are scheduled to host Dakota State for a conference-opening doubleheader at 1 p.m.

Valley City State 5, Aquinas College 4
Valley City State scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the fourth to come from behind and take the first game of the day over Aquinas College.

The Saints hit a two-run home run in the first inning and scored another in the third to take a 3-0 advantage over the Vikings.

In the bottom of the fourth, Valley City State Marissa Hawkins got on base with a single to center field. Keana Harmon came up and hit a two-run home run over the center field fence to put the Vikings on the board, trailing by just a run.

Madison Gronau, Jayme Menard, and Autumn Perry each singled to load the bases with two outs and prompt an Aquinas pitching change. Joelle Aiello then smashed a triple to score three runs and put the Vikings ahead for good as they took the first game of the day, 5-4.

Joelle Lamontagne picked up the win Monday, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing just one run on two hits while striking out two. Jami Nalley started in the circle for the Vikings and struck out five batters while only walking one.

Joelle Aiello tallied three RBIs for the Vikings while Keana Harmon added two. Marissa Hawkins and Jayme Menard each went 2-for-3 in the game.

Mia Loya took the loss for Aquinas, allowing five runs on six hits, walking two and striking out two.

Brooke Wila, Kallie Sears, Leigha Morse, and Jordan Humitz each recorded a hit for the Saints Monday.

(14)Olivet Nazarene 4, Valley City State 3
In their second game of the day, Olivet Nazarene collected three runs in the first inning and held onto their 3-0 lead until Sierra Crocker's RBI double put the Vikings on the board in the top of the fifth.

Then, in the top of the seventh inning, the Keana Harmon and Madison Gronau each drew a walk to score a pair of runs and tie the game at 3-3.

Olivet Nazarene opened the bottom of the seventh with a pair of singles followed by a walk to load the bases with zero outs. Miranda Southall then singled to right field to score the winning run for the Tigers, 4-3.

Amber Stewart started in the circle and took the loss for the Vikings. She pitched six innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out four.

Marissa Hawkins went 3-for-4 against the Tigers while Autumn Perry went 2-for-4. Crocker, Harmon, and Gronau each recorded an RBI for the Vikings.

Kayla Hon picked up the win for the Tigers, pitching a complete game while allowing three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking seven.

Sara Beers tallied three hits for Olivet Nazarene while Kate Landis, Miranda Southall, and Kelly Rinker each added two. Southall added two RBIs for the Tigers.