VCSU softball completes series sweep over Viterbo
JAMESTOWN – The Valley City State softball team completed a four-game sweep over Viterbo with a pair of wins Friday at the Nelson Family Bubble.
The Vikings defeated the V-Hawks 5-1 and 9-2 to improve to 16-15 on the season and 8-3 in conference play. Viterbo drops to 6-23 overall and 3-9 in the North Star.
Sierra Crocker and Logan Gronberg paced the Viking offense Friday, combining for seven hits, six runs and five RBIs.
The Vikings are slated to host Dakota State next weekend, weather permitting. Games will be played at 2 and 4 p.m. on Saturday and 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the VCSU Softball Complex.
VCSU 5, Viterbo 1
VCSU took a 5-1 victory over Viterbo in Friday's first matchup. VCSU never trailed Friday and scored in the first inning on Gronberg's RBI single to left field.
The Vikings added three more runs in the fourth inning with the help of Makenzee Stone's 2-run double. She would also score on Maerin Dartnell's RBI single in the inning. Crocker then added a solo homer to lead off the fifth inning to hold onto a 5-1 lead the rest of the way.
Joelle Lamontagne got the win after starting in the circle. She worked 5 and 2/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits while walking one and striking out five. Gronberg earned a save after tossing 1 and 1/3 innings in relief. She did not allow a single hit, walked one and struck out one.
Gronberg was the only Viking with multiple hits in the game as she was 3-for-3 at the plate Friday. Stone added a double with two RBIs and Crocker scored twice – including a solo home run. Dartnell, Alyssa DePoorter, Saige Forseth, and Ashlyn Diemert each singled in the game.
Viterbo's Emily Roberts got the loss after starting in the circle and working 2 complete innings. She allowed one run on two hits and walked two. Alexis Watson and Amanda Bogdonovich each pitched 2 innings in relief. Watson allowed four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two. Bogdonovich allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out one.
Six different V-Hawks recorded a hit Friday, and Alina Garstka drove in Bogdonovich for Viterbo's lone run in the game.
VCSU 9, Viterbo 2
VCSU pushed across four runs in the first inning en route to a 9-2 win to sweep the series against Viterbo. VCSU capped the game with four more runs in the sixth with the help of Gronberg's 2-run single.
Viterbo managed to score two runs in the second inning, including an RBI double by Makella Jacobs.
Crocker was 2-for3 at the plate with a double and scored two runs for the Vikings. Kennadi Stone walked three times and scored two runs, and Gronberg added two runs and three RBIs Friday.
Maddy Zander doubled, while Saige Forseth and Makenzee Stone each added a sacrifice fly.
Zander earned the win after pitching a complete game Friday. She allowed two runs on five hits while walking five and striking out six.
Roberts got the loss in the circle for Viterbo after allowing four runs on two hits and walking two in 2/3 of an inning. Bogdonovich tossed 4 and 2/3 innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits while walking four. Watson tossed 2/3 of an inning and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out one.
Megan Jardine led Viterbo with two hits in the game while Jacobs scored a run and drove in one for Viterbo.