DICKINSON – Valley City State's starting pitcher Maddy Zander allowed just one Waldorf hit Saturday as the Vikings shut out the Warriors 8-0 in five innings.
 
Maerin Dartnell drove in a team-best four runs and Logan Gronberg drove in two as the Vikings eliminated the Warriors from the NSAA Postseason. Waldorf ends its season with a 10-29 overall record.
 
VCSU improves to 27-21 overall and advances in the NSAA Tournament. The Vikings will face No. 4 Mayville State on Sunday at 2 p.m. CT/1 p.m. MT in another loser-out contest.
 
The Vikings opened up scoring on Dartnell's bases-clearing double in the second inning to hold a 3-0 lead. Dartnell, Zander and Sierra Crocker each drove in a run in the fourth inning to expand its lead to 6-0. Logan Gronberg rounded the win on a 2-out, 2-run single down the left field line to seal the win by mercy rule.
 
Gronberg was 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, and Zander was 2-for-2 with a run and RBI. Avery Kuklinksi was also 3-for-3 while Crocker and Ashlyn Diemert each added two hits. Diemert and Kuklinski each scored three runs for the Vikings.
 
Zander earned the win for VCSU after pitching all 5 innings and allowing just one hit. She walked three and struck out eight batters.
 
Maddie Dalke got the loss for Waldorf after starting in the circle and working 4 innings. She allowed six runs on nine hits, walked two and struck out two. Mckenna Mentink pitched 2/3 of an inning in relief and allowed two runs on five hits. Kyleigh Morris had Waldorf's only hit of the game.