JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The Valley City State Softball team opened the 2026 season in Jamestown with a pair of games with the University of Providence and the University of Jamestown at the Nelson Family Bubble. The Vikings fell 13-10 to Providence in the opener despite 15 hits and three home runs.

The Vikings are 0-1 on the season. The Argos are 3-3.

The Argos scored first in the matchup of Frontier Conference teams. In the top of the first, Tehneson Ehnes reached on an infield single to the right side, Kasidy Yeoman came in the score the first run of the game.
Providence would add to their lead in the top of the second. Tiffany Fuentes singled in Madison Moultray who led off the inning with a double.

In the top of the third, Ehnes hit a two-run homer to right, giving the Argos a 4-0 lead. Alix Bishop hit a ground rule double to bring in Erin Bishop to make it 5-0 Argos.

The Vikings got on the board in the bottom of the third on Kylee Banerd's solo home run to right field, making the score 5-1 Providence.

The Argos plated two more runs in the top of the fifth on a single by Galloway, scoring Alix Bishop, and a single by Fuentes, scoring Moultray to make it 7-1.

VCSU got a run back in the bottom of the fifth when Katelyn MacNeill tripled to center, scoring Olivia Kalbus to make it 7-2 Argos.

Providence added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Yeoman scored on a fielder's choice and Alix Bishop doubled in Erin Bishop to make it 9-2 Argos.

Valley City tied the game with a big sixth inning. With bases loaded, Logan Gronberg drove one deep over the center field fence for a grand slam to cut the Argos lead to 9-6. Kennadi Stone followed that up with a solo shot to right center, making it 9-7 Providence. Avery Kuklinski blooped a single to left center field, scoring Madden Bogenreif and Pascale Kihn to tie the game at 9.

Provdience would plate four in the top of the seventh, all with two. With the bases loaded, Alix Bishop singled to center field, when the ball was bobbled in the outfield, two more runs score, making it 12-9 Argos. Moultray reached on an error, and Bishop came in the score to make 13-9 Providence.

Valley City made a last-ditch effort scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Banerd walked to lead off the inning. She moved to second on a wild pitch. Gronberg grounded out to third, moving Banerd to third, when the throw to try and get Banerd got away, she scored to make it 13-10. With two out and a runner at second Kihn hit a line drive right at the third baseman to end the game.

Kennadi Stone was 3 for 4 with a run and a HR. Logan Gronberg was 2 for 5 with a double and a grand slam home run. She scored once and drove in five. Kylee Banerd was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and a home run. Avery Kuklinski was 2 for 4 with a run and two RBI. Reagan Mieras was 2 for 4, Jenna Decker was 1 for 5 with a double, Pascale Kihn was 1 for 5 with a run, Katelyn MacNeil was 1 for 4 with an RBI, and Maddie Hazelton was 1 for 1.