TUCSON, ARIZ. – Valley City State opened its ten-game stretch in Arizona with a pair of losses. The Vikings lost to Northwestern 12-4 and to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 14-6.
The Vikings are 7-7 on the season. Northwestern is 15-5 and ERAU is 9-7.

GAME 1: Northwestern College 12, Valley City State 4 F/6
The Red Raiders scored in every inning but the first on the way to the 12-4 win in the second meeting between these two teams in two weeks.

Northwestern scored first with two runs in the bottom of the second, both coming with two out. The two runs came in to score on an error, giving the Red Raiders the early 2-0 lead.

Valley City State got a run back in the top of the third when Avery Kuklinski, who reached on an error to start the game, came in on a ground out by Madden Bogenreif to make it 2-1 Northwestern.

In the bottom of the third three more runs came in on errors, making it 5-1 Northwestern. A run scored on an error and on a bases loaded walk for Northwestern in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-1.

The Vikings got three runs back in the top of the fifth on a two-run single by Jenna Decker, and a RBI double by Kennadi Stone to make it 7-4 Red Raiders.

A run scored on an error in the bottom of the fifth for Northwestern to make it 9-4.

In the sixth, they would score three runs to end the game early. Paige Kingery had an RBI single. A run scored on an error and Cassidy Gors had an RBI single to make the final 12-4.

Eight Vikings had one hit each. Jenna Decker was 1 for 2 with a run scored and two RBI. Avery Kuklinski was 1 for 3 with two runs scored. Madden Bogenreif and Kennadi Stone were both 1 for 3 with an RBI. Ahleeya Nicola, Olivia Kalbus, and Katelyn MacNeill were all 1 for 3. Pascale Kihn was 1 for 4.

Game 2: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 14, Valley City State 6
The Eagles used one big inning to pull away from Valley City State for a 14-6 win in Tucson.

Leah Salas drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double in the top of the first inning to give the Eagles the early lead. She would come around to score on Katie Jamieson's double to make it 2-0.

Valley City State go a run back in the bottom of the first. Kennadi Stone doubled, scoring Pascale Kihn who led off the inning with a single.

ERAU scored three times in the top of the third. Kealy Myhre doubled in Annalie Castanon to make it 3-1. Jamieson grounded out, Ryan Da Costa came in to score to make it 4-1. Jade Bayless singled in Myhre to make it 5-1 Eagles.

Valley City State got a run back in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded and two out, Ahleeya Nicola took a pitch that she thought was ball four, but it was called a strike, and the runners were got off base. Jenna Decker was caught in a rundown between second and third. Kihn came in to score but Decker was called out for interference.

The Eagles would come up big I the fourth. Da Costa had an RBI single, Salas drove in two with a double, Jamieson had an RBI single, Bayless capped the scoring with a two-run home run to make it 11-2 Eagles.
The Vikings got one back on an RBI ground out by Bailey Leroux to make it 11-3.

Myhre had a two-out RBI single in the top of the fifth to make it 12-3 ERAU.

VCSU made some noise in the bottom of the fifth with three runs, all after two were out. Nicola singled to right-center field. When the ball was misplayed by the Eagles center fielder, Kihn and Gullett came in to score to make it 12-5. Nicola, who made it all the way to third, came in to score on Madden Bogenrief's single to make it 12-6.

Neither team scored in the sixth, then the Eagles added two runs in the top of the seventh. Jamieson singled in Salas then Bayless brought in Jamieson to make the final 14-6.

Pascale Kihn led the ten-hit attack for Valley City State by going 3 for 4 with three runs scored. Ahleeya Nicola was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Maddy Hazelton was 1 for 1, Bailey Leroux was 1 for 2 with an RBI, Kennadi Stone and Madden Bogenreif were both 1 for 3 with an RBI, and Jenna Decker was 1 for 4.

UP NEXT: The Vikings continue the Arizona trip with two games on Sunday, March 8^th. VCSU plays former North Star Athletic Association member Viterbo at 11:00 a.m. and then take on Dakota Wesleyan at 1:00 p.m.