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N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Viking softball team posted a 1-3 record this weekend during a four-game conference series at Dickinson State.
Valley City State earned its lone victory in the series finale Saturday, picking up a 5-3 win over the Blue Hawks. The Vikings lost the opener 4-3 on Friday. Game two on Friday was suspended due to darkness, and when play resumed Saturday the Blue Hawks picked up another 4-3 win in extra innings. The first game of Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader was a 4-0 game in favor of Dickinson.
Valley City State is now 15-25 overall and 6-12 in the North Star Athletic Association. The Blue Hawks move to 13-19 overall and 8-6 in conference play.
Up next: Valley City State hosts University of Regina for a non-conference doubleheader on Friday. Game times are set for 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. in Valley City.
Game 1: Dickinson State 4, VCSU 3
Cassie Pautz’ RBI single scored two runs in the top of the third inning, putting the Vikings up 2-1. Dickinson State rallied for a 4-2 lead through the middle innings. The Vikings made it 4-3 on Tatum Lundin’s RBI single in the sixth. VCSU could not complete the comeback though, leaving the tying run at second base in the seventh inning.
Tatum Lundin went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Viking offense, which scored its three runs on seven hits. Dickinson scored its four runs on five hits. Both teams committed three errors.
Morgan Nalley and Ashley Metcalf both pitched three innings for the Vikings, allowing two runs each.
Game 2: Dickinson State 4, VCSU 3 (8 innings)
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Cassie Pautz and Kelli Moore gave the Vikings a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning. The Vikings led 3-1 after the top of the fifth, but the Blue Hawks scored single runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to rally for the win.
The game was suspended due to darkness Friday night with the teams tied 3-3 after seven innings. It was resumed on Saturday and the Blue Hawks scored an unearned run in their half of the eighth to pick up the victory.
VCSU had nine hits in the game, led by a 3-for-5 game by Kelsey Hamade. Pautz went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and Moore was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Emily Smith also doubled and drove in a run.
Haley Butterfield pitched the complete game for VCSU, going 7 1/3 innings. She scattered seven hits and gave up four runs – three of which were earned. She walked six and struck out three.
Game 3: Dickinson State 4, VCSU 0
Dickinson State starter Abigail Brooks held the Vikings to just three hits as the Blue Hawks won 4-0 in game three of the series.
Jayme Menard, Emily Smith and Kelli Moore each had a hit for the Vikings. Ashley Metcalf pitched all six innings for VCSU and took the loss. She gave up seven hits and four runs, did not walk anyone and struck out four.
Game 4: VCSU 5, Dickinson State 3
The Vikings ended the series on a high note, taking home a 5-3 victory in the series finale Saturday.
Valley City State trailed 2-0 after three innings, but rallied for two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. The Vikings added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning.
Morgan Nalley pitched a complete game for the victory. The senior scattered nine hits and three runs. She walked one and struck out one. Nalley helped her cause at the plate with a 2-run double in the fourth inning, putting the Vikings on the board.
VCSU managed six hits in the game. Jayme Menard went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, and Nalley was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Cassie Pautz had a hit and RBI, and Kelli Moore collected a hit as well.