JAMESTOWN – The Valley City State Softball team defeated Jamestown in a Friday split at the Nelson Family Bubble on the University of Jamestown campus. The Vikings took a 9-3 win over the Jimmies and then fell to Concordia College 3-1.
 
VCSU is now 5-5 on the season and returns to Jamestown Saturday for two more games. The Vikings face Dickinson State at 2:30 p.m. and the University of Mary at 4:30 p.m.
 
VCSU 9, Jamestown 3
Valley City State took a 9-3 victory over host Jamestown Friday with the help of home runs by Kennadi Stone and Kylee Banerd. VCSU also made a late two-out, four-run effort in the seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
 
Stone opened up scoring with a solo shot to right field in the second inning. Makenzee Stone and Jenna Decker later contributed RBI singles in the fourth inning to expand the Viking lead to 4-1. After Banerd's solo homer in the fifth, Jamestown scored in back-to-back innings to close the gap to 5-3 going into the final inning.
 
After a pair of fly-outs to open the seventh inning, VCSU made a late rally including doubles from Kennadi Stone, scoring Maddy Zander, and Alyssa DePoorter. A critical Jimmie error allowed two more Viking runs to score, putting the game away with a 9-3 win.
 
VCSU totaled nine hits and four extra-base hits in the game. Kennadi Stone doubled and homered for VCSU, and Banerd added a home run. DePoorter and Madison Hazelton each added two hits including a double for DePoorter. Stone, Hazelton and DePoorter each scored two runs for the Vikings.
 
Maddy Zander picked up the win in the circle for VCSU after working 5 and 2/3 innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits, walked three and struck out four. Hazelton earned the save after pitching 1 and 1/3 innings in relief. She did not allow a single hit or walk while striking out one.
 
Jamestown's Trinity Gregg was 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored for the Jimmies. Hope Ransome got the loss in the circle after working 4 and 1/3 innings. She allowed five runs on six hits, walked three and struck out six.
 
Concordia 3, VCSU 1
VCSU's second game of the day featured a pitcher's duel in a low scoring game in which Concordia came out on top. Concordia scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure the 3-1 win.
 
Concordia's Emma Bowman tripled to open the fifth inning and was driven home on Lily Heskin's groundout. VCSU responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Kennadi Stone on a sacrifice fly from Makenzee Stone.
 
VCSU had a chance in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runners in scoring position after a two-out double from Kylee Banerd. Maddy Zander couldn't deliver the go-ahead run as she flied out to centerfield to end the inning.

Concordia's Kate Gulbranson doubled to open the seventh inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Bowman. Heskin then reached on a bunt single, and Gulbranson was deemed safe at home after a collision with fielder Alyssa DePoorter down the third baseline. A Viking error allowed Heskin to score to build the Concordia lead to 3-1. Catcher Lauren Nixon caught Kailee Falconer stealing and Klaahsen delivered a strikeout to minimize the damage.
 
From there, Kennadi Stone opened the bottom of the seventh with a base-hit to left field. With two outs, she advanced to second on a passed ball but would be left stranded there to end the game.
 
Bayleigh Frye picked up the complete game win for Concordia after allowing just one run on three hits in the game. She walked only one and struck out five.
 
VCSU's Cooper Klaahsen got the loss in the circle after pitching 2 complete innings in relief. She allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on three hits. Klaahsen did not walk a batter and struck out three. Hazelton started in the circle and went 5 complete innings while allowing one run on one hit, walking four and striking out seven.
 
Banerd doubled for VCSU while K. Stone and DePoorter each singled for the offense. M. Stone drove in VCSU's lone run Friday.