VALLEY CITY – The Valley City State softball team split its home finale against Mayville State Friday including an 8-3 win in game one. The Vikings then came from behind to tie the second game of the day but ultimately fell 5-4.
VCSU is now 20-21 on the season and 9-9 in the conference. Mayville is now 10-33 on the season and 4-14 in the North Star.
VCSU rounds out the regular season with a doubleheader Saturday at Mayville State at 1/3 p.m.
VCSU 7, Mayville 2
The Vikings used a big third inning to erase a 2-0 deficit en route to an 8-3 victory to open its series against Mayville State.
Mayville was on the board in the first inning on a 2-run home run from Lindsey Tulla. After the Comets held the Vikings scoreless in the first two innings, VCSU found a big rally in the bottom of the third.
Lauren Nixon reached on a bunt single followed by a
Makenzee Stone walk to put two runners on with no outs.
Ashlyn Diemert then homered to left field to put the Vikings on the board.
Alyssa DePoorter later added a 2-run home run to center field to expand the Viking lead to 6-2 after three innings.
Kennadi Stone later delivered a sacrifice fly to add to the Viking lead. Mayville found a run in the top of the sixth inning as Mackenzie Hughes drew a 2-out bases-loaded walk. VCSU responded in the bottom half of the inning as Diemert provided a clutch 2-out triple to score Nixon to make it 8-3.
Diemert paced the Vikings with a triple, a home run and four RBIs in the game. DePoorter homered and drove in two runs while Nixon scored two runs.
Kennadi Stone was 1-for-1 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored.
Maddy Zander got the win in the circle after working 6 complete innings. She allowed three runs on six hits, walked four and struck out seven.
Madison Hazelton pitched an inning in relief and allowed one hit, one walk and struck out three.
Mayville's Lacey Mathiowetz got the loss for the Comets after starting in the circle and pitching 2 and 2/3 innings. She allowed six runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three. Baileigh Momberg pitched in relief and allowed two runs on two hits and walked two.
Tulla finished the game going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and two RBIs to lead the Comets.
Mayville 5, VCSU 4
VCSU again used a big inning to erase a Comet lead, but this time fell short 5-4 after Mayville's Mackenzie Hughes delivered an infield single to score the go-ahead run in the sixth inning.
Trailing 4-0, VCSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth inning with no outs.
Makenzee Stone singled to center field to drive in VCSU's first run of the game. Diemert then scored Kuklinksi on a fielder's choice to cut the Mayville lead in half, 4-2.
With two outs, Mayville intentionally walked NSAA home run leader
Logan Gronberg to load the bases yet again.
Kennadi Stone then drove in a run on a fielder's choice and all runners were deemed safe. Zander singled up the middle to tie the game at 4-4.
Mayville scored a run in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Diemert reached on an error and advanced two bases on Katelynn MacNeill's sacrifice bunt. The Vikings were unable to bring the tying run home
Madison Hazelton got the loss in the circle after pitching 3 relief innings Friday. She allowed two runs on three hits, struck out three and did not walk a single batter.
Cooper Klaahsen started in the circle and worked 4 complete innings. She allowed three runs on four hits, walked three and struck out eight.
Nixon was 2-for-3 at the plate Friday to lead the Vikings. Diemert and
Makenzee Stone each scored a run and drove in a run.
Mayville's Autumn McGough got the win in the circle after pitching a complete game. She allowed five runs on seven hits, walked four and struck out five. Hughes led the Comets with two hits, two runs and one RBI while Tulla added two hits, a double, and two RBIs.
