TUCSON, ARIZ. – The Valley City State softball team finished its stint at the Tucson Invitational Games on a high note, using just 10 innings to pick up a pair of wins. VCSU defeated Simpson University 13-1 and then Nelson University 8-0.
 
The Vikings totaled 25 hits on the day highlighted by a home run from Kennadi Stone. VCSU concludes its TIG stretch with a 6-5 record and improves its overall record to 11-12. VCSU will have a break before kicking off conference play at Dakota State March 29-30.
 
VCSU 13, Simpson 1 (5 innings)
The Vikings totaled 13 hits, including six for extra-bases, in a 13-1 victory over Simpson to open the day.
 
VCSU scored in each of the first four innings including seven runs in the first inning to pull build a strong lead early on. Ashlyn Diemert posted a 2-run double for the Vikings while Alyssa DePoorter, Maddy Zander and Makenzee Stone each added RBI singles.
 
The Vikings added two runs in the second inning with the help of an RBI triple from Diemert and three runs in the fourth including a 2-run double from Madison Hazelton.
 
Diemert led the Vikings with a triple and a double with three RBIs Thursday. Hazelton added two hits with a double and four RBIs for VCSU. Also finishing with multiple hits in the game include DePoorter, Zander, Kylee Banerd, and Makenzee Stone. Zander and Logan Gronberg each doubled for VCSU while Gronberg, Kennadi Stone and Jenna Decker each swiped the plate twice.
 
Zander earned the win in the circle after starting the game and working 4 complete innings. She allowed one unearned run, three hits and three walks while striking out six. Cooper Klaahsen pitched one inning in relief and allowed just one hit while striking out two.
 
VCSU 8, Nelson 0 (5 innings)
Valley City State's Madison Hazelton then shut out Nelson University (Ariz.) and allowed just two hits in the game. The freshman also delivered the game-deciding RBI single to decide the game 8-0 by run rule in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
VCSU opened up scoring in the first inning on Banerd's RBI double. The Vikings then rallied for four runs in the third inning with Avery Kuklinski smashing a 2-run single to center field. Kennadi Stone added a 2-run homer in the fourth inning to build the Viking lead to 7-0, and with just one out in the fifth inning, Hazelton's single to center scored Katelyn MacNeill to decide the game.
 
Hazelton, Banerd, DePoorter, K. Stone, MacNeill and Kuklinski each recorded two hits for the Vikings Thursday. DePoorter and Stone each scored twice while Stone and Kuklinski each drove in two runs.
 
Hazelton earned the win in the circle after pitching 5 shutout innings and allowing just two hits. She walked one and struck out six batters.