The Valley City State softball team ended its weekend stay in Aberdeen with a 1-3 record at the Presentation College Dome Tournament.
After splitting its games on Friday – including a win over University of Jamestown – the Vikings dropped both their games on Saturday. The Vikings lost 9-1 to Northern State University, and then fell 3-2 in a close game with College of Saint Mary in the weekend finale.
The Vikings are now 3-5 to start the season. VCSU will play its final round of indoor games next weekend with four more games at the PC Dome.
Northern State 9, VCSU 1
The NCAA Division II Wolves totaled 16 hits and nine runs, defeating the Vikings 9-1 in Saturday's opener. The teams were scoreless through two innings before Northern State scored two in the third inning and three runs in the fourth to take control.
The Vikings totaled four hits in the loss, getting two hits from Joelle Aiello and one each by Michelle Krahn and Marissa Hawkins.
Aiello started in the circle for VCSU and pitched five innings, allowing 11 hits and six runs. Brooke Gaudry pitched the final two innings in relief, giving up five hits and three runs.
College of Saint Mary 3, VCSU 2
College of Saint Mary only scored in one inning, but its three runs in the third inning was enough as the Vikings lost a tight 3-2 contest in the weekend finale.
Sierra Crocker started the scoring for VCSU with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, putting VCSU up 1-0. College of Saint Mary answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, stringing together four hits in the inning.
The Vikings cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth inning after Jessica Husband doubled with two outs and Riley Perryman drove her in with a single to centerfield. That's all the offense the Vikings could manage the rest of the way as the Flames held on for the victory.
Husband was 2-for-2 and scored a run to lead VCSU's offense. Crocker was 1-for-2 with a walk and her home run, and Perryman went 1-for-3 with an RBI. The Vikings had four hits in the game.
Joelle Lamontagne pitched the first three innings, allowing six hits and three runs. She walked one and struck out one. Marissa Hawkins pitched the final three innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. She walked two and struck out two.
