TUCSON, ARIZ. – Valley City State fell to William Penn and Westcliff University Tuesday at the Tucson Invitational Games.
VCSU dropped its first contest of the day 4-3 to William Penn. The Vikings then took Westcliff to extra innings in a 1-1 deadlock but ultimately fell to the Warriors 4-1. VCSU is now 4-3 while competing in Tucson and 9-10 on the season.
The Vikings will face Avila University Wednesday at 11 a.m. and Concordia University (Neb.) at 3:30 p.m. Central Time.
William Penn 4, VCSU 3
Valley City State managed just five hits Tuesday as the Vikings fell 4-3 to William Penn Tuesday afternoon.
William Penn scored all four of its runs in the third inning including a 2-run double from Laila Smith. VCSU used a 3-run fourth inning to close the gap including a
Kylee Banerd solo home run paired with
Ashlyn Diemert's 2-run single to center field. The Vikings would get no closer down the stretch.
Banerd went 2-for-3 at the plate while Diemert,
Logan Gronberg and
Kennadi Stone each added a hit for the Vikings. Banerd, Stone and
Avery Kuklinski each scored a run Tuesday.
Maddy Zander got the loss in the circle after pitching 5 innings. She allowed four runs on three hits, walked three and struck out two.
Madison Hazelton pitched one inning in relief and allowed just one hit.
Westcliff 4, VCSU 1 (8 innings)
Valley City State and Westcliff faced off in a strong defensive matchup Tuesday and the Warriors came out on top with a big eighth inning.
The teams each scored in the third inning – Westcliff on a wild pitch and VCSU on Hazelton's RBI single to right field. Pitchers Hazelton and Madison Mendez would battle in the circle to hold off any offense. The Vikings totaled three hits in the game while the Warriors managed four.
Westcliff scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning and VCSU couldn't respond in the extra frame.
Hazelton totaled two hits and one RBI while Zander added a hit and
Lauren Nixon scored VCSU's lone run. Zander got the loss for VCSU after pitching 2 and 1/3 relief innings. She allowed three runs on one hit, walked one and struck out two. Hazelton started in the circle and worked 5 and 2/3 strong innings. She allowed one run on three hits, walked three and struck out one.
