ABERDEEN, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- In the final conference games of the weekend, the VCSU softball team topped Waldorf University in both games Saturday – including a wild walk-off victory in game two. VCSU trailed Waldorf 5-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, but rallied for four runs as Brittney Manthie delivered a walk-off single to complete the comeback.
The Vikings now are 23-7 (6-2 NSAA) for the season. Pending weather, the next action for VCSU is this Friday and Saturday against the University of Jamestown.
Valley City State University 2, Waldorf University 1
It was a pitching battle between both teams in game one. VCSU allowed 11 hits but continued to get out of jams throughout the whole game from impressive defense and pitching.
Haley Butterfield tossed her fourth complete game of the season. Butterfield allowed one run on 11 hits, walking two, and striking out six. Butterfield is now 11-3 on the season and leads the Vikings in multiple pitching categories.
Joelle Aiello and Kelsey Hamade continued their strong weekend performances by driving in both of VCSU’s runs. Aiello had two hits, including a triple, and Hamade had one.
Valley City State University 6, Waldorf University 5
In game two VCSU came back from a four-run deficit in the fourth inning to defeat Waldorf. Going into the last inning the Vikings were down 5-2 but scored four runs for the walk-off win. The Vikings were down to their final out trailing 5-2, but three straight RBI doubles tied the game at 5-5 and then Manthie singled home Jayme Menard for the game-winner.
Nichole Reed had another impressive start from the circle, tossing four innings, giving up four runs (none were earned) and striking out two. Emily Smith finished the last three innings from the circle, allowing one earned run and striking out three.
Joelle Aiello continued her hitting streak to nine games after getting two hits in the second game of the doubleheader. The middle of the order in VCSU’s lineup (Voni Culp, Emily Smith, Jayme Menard, and Brittney Manthie) accounted for seven of the Vikings 10 hits and each drove in a run. In the last inning VCSU had five hits, including three straight doubles that led to the walk-off single by Brittney Manthie.