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CITY (vikings.vcsu.edu)–The Vikings are making the Association of Independent Institutions (AII) raters eat their ballots.
After being snubbed for a spot in the postseason by the last poll, every senior that hit in the lineup collected a hit and both wins went to the seniors in the circle as the VCSU Viking Softball team honored their departing teammates with a sweep over NCAA Division II Bemidji State.
Game one was all seniors as Emma Nelson went three for four at the plate and Cyndi Figol along with Jane Pettit collected two hits each to lead a thirteen hit barrage for the Viking offense in an 8-3 victory. Jen Shadlock also collected a hit and pitched through a knee injury that happened at home plate in the first inning to collect her career high tenth win of the season. Savannah McMillin also recorded two hits in three at bats for the Vikings.
Shadlock scattered eight hits over seven innings, giving up three earned runs. Shadlock received strong defense, inducing eight ground balls and turning two line out double plays in the infield.
Valley City State jumped out with three runs in the first and tacked on one more in the fourth before the Beavers rallied for three in the top of the fifth to make it a 4-3 game. Valley City State responded and took away the momentum for good with four in the bottom half of the same inning to claim the victory.
Game two saw Katie McBride return to form. After Bemidji State plated their lone run of the game in the top of the fourth, the Vikings again responded, this time with four in the bottom of the fourth, and that’s all they would need in the 4-1 win. McBride recorded twelve strikeouts in seven innings in route to her 15th victory of the season.
The Viking offense this time recorded twelve hits in game two, this time led by shortstop Adrianna Boychuk who was three for four in the game. Hilary Kulczewski and McMillin also recorded two hits each. Playing in her final home game, Sara Gullickson also collected a hit for the Vikings.
McBride allowed only three hits, walked two and surrendered one unearned run. Her 15 victories on the season is the most since Karalea Morris set the single season record with 22 in 2006.
With the sweep the Vikings have won 11 of their last twelve games and their win streak stands at seven in a row. With an overall record of 25-18, the Vikings have now tied the record for second most victories in a season. After the record of 36 was set in 2006, the 2007 and 2008 teams both collected 25 wins in their respective seasons.
The Vikings will finish their season this coming weekend at the DAC Tournament at Mayville State. The number three seeded Vikings will open against #2 seeded Dickinson State on Saturday at 2:00 PM.