Strong pitching helps VCSU in split games
ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Valley City State softball split a pair of games Saturday at the PC Dome with strong appearances by VCSU's pitchers.
The Vikings dropped a close 4-3 game against Doane University that went to extra innings after the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 after the original seven innings. VCSU then powered its way to a 13-1 victory over the College of Saint Mary.
VCSU finished with a 2-2 record over the weekend and is now 5-7 on the season. The Vikings will take a break until its spring break trip to compete at the Tucson Invitational Games on March 11-15.
Doane 4, VCSU 3 (8 innings)
The first game of the day started as a pitcher showdown between VCSU's Joelle Lamon-* tagne and Doane's Camry Moore. Lamontagne allowed just two hits and one run in the first six innings while Moore allowed just four hits through five innings.
VCSU's offense opened up in the sixth inning, loading the bases on three straight singles with no outs. Makenzee Stone and Saige Forseth each drove in a run to take over a 2-1 lead.
Doane's Hannah Pack scored in the seventh on a Viking error to tie the game 2-2 and head to extra innings. Doane scored two runs in the top of the eighth on a pair of RBI doubles by Pack and Anna Prauner.
The Vikings were able to score Alyssa DePoorter in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough as Moore worked out of the inning to finish with a complete game, allowing three runs on nine hits and striking out seven batters.
Lamontagne got the loss after 7 and 2/3 innings. She allowed four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out six.
Stone, Riley Perryman and Marissa Hawkins tallied two hits each and Stone drove in two of VCSU's runs.
VCSU 13, College of Saint Mary 1
VCSU's offense powered its way to a 13-1 victory and totaled 15 hits in the second game of the day. The Vikings posted eight runs in the first inning including a two-run single from Sierra Crocker and a tworun double by Alyssa DePoorter.
Maddy Zander held the Flames scoreless through the first three innings, allowing its first run on a sac fly by Sydney Griffin in the bottom of the fourth.
VCSU added five more runs in the seventh inning, including a tworun homer by Zander to help the Viking win.
Zander got the win in the circle after pitching a complete game. She allowed one run on four hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Copinga went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple and scored two runs. Sierra Crocker had three hits, scored one run and drove in two. Zander, Stone, DePoorter and Riley Perryman (2) all doubled in the game. DePoorter and Ella Roaldson drove in two runs apiece against the Flames.
Mickayla Larsen got the loss for College of Saint Mary, allowing three runs on two hits. Daisy Lowther pitched 6 and 2/3 innings and allowed 10 runs on 12 hits while striking out four. Izzy Monzon was 2-for-3 at the plate for the Flames.