VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSU Sports Information) – The Valley City State University softball team completed the series sweep over Dakota State University after a pair of wins via run rule on Sunday, March 29. In game one, the Vikings took down the Trojans with an 8-0 shutout win led by a strong hitting performance and a one hit shutout delivered by Maddy Hazelton. Game two saw a little more scoring, but the same number of innings. The Vikings hammered four home runs, three from Kylee Banerd and one from Madden Bogenreif on their way to a 14-6 win to sweep the series.
Valley City State improves to 16-13 overall and are now 6-2 in Frontier Conference games. The Trojans fall to 7-19 overall and are 1-7 in Frontier Conference games.
In game one, the Vikings delivered a dominant performance from start to finish, shutting out Dakota State University 8-0. The game opened as a pitcher’s duel, with both teams going quietly in the first inning. Valley City State quickly set the tone defensively, retiring the Trojans in order in both the first and second innings. Maddy Hazelton who recorded five strikeouts in the first two innings.
The Vikings broke through in the bottom of the second. Kylee Banerd reached on a walk, and consecutive singles from Reagan Mieras and Maddy Hazelton loaded the bases. Banerd came around to score on an error, and Katelyn MacNeill added an RBI groundout to give VCSU a 2-0 lead. The Vikings added another run in the third when Madden Bogenreif scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Jenna Decker, extending the lead to 3-0.
Valley City State created separation in the fourth with a big inning at the plate. After loading the bases, Bogenreif delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home a run before Kennadi Stone broke the game open with a two-run double to center. The three-run frame pushed the advantage to 6-0.
The Vikings put the finishing touches on the victory in the fifth inning. After a pair of walks set the table, MacNeill came through again with a clutch two-run double, driving in both runners to make it 8-0 securing the early win by run rule.
Katelyn MacNeill led the Vikings offense going 2/3 with three RBIs and one run. At the mound, Maddy Hazelton delivered a five-inning shutout win with seven strikeouts. Hazelton only allowed one hit during her outing improving to 8-8 on the season. Dakota State’s Grace Kitterman was credited the loss and is now 3-7 on the year.
The Vikings delivered a hitting clinic in game two taking a 14-6 win after five innings. The Vikings struck early in the bottom of the first as Madden Bogenreif singled to set the table for Kylee Banerd, who blasted her first home run to center field to give VCSU a 2-0 lead.
The Vikings continued to build momentum over the next two innings. In the second, Katelyn MacNeill reached on a single to left field, and advanced on a stolen base and an error getting to third. An RBI groundout by Avery Kuklinski made it 3-0. Later in the third, Banerd added to her big day with her second home run of the game, a solo shot. The Vikings would load the bases with a single and two walks allowing Avery Kuklinski to deliver a two-run single to stretch the advantage to 6-0. In the bottom of the fourth, The Vikings found two more runs after Banerd sent a two RBI single to center making it 8-0.
Dakota State mounted a response in the fifth inning, finally breaking through with a six-run frame. A triple from Emmalynn Rabe and a three-run homer by Quincy Hartley highlighted the surge, quickly cutting the Vikings’ lead to 8-6.
The Vikings responded in the bottom half of the fifth to put the game away. After a pair of singles set the stage, Bogenreif launched a three-run homer to push the lead back to six. Banerd followed with her third home run of the game, a two-run shot, and the Vikings kept rolling from there. An RBI sacrifice fly from Anna Kowalyk capped a six-run inning, sealing the 14-6 run-rule victory and completing a dominant offensive performance for Valley City State.
Kylee Banerd finished her career day going 4/4 with three home runs, seven RBIs, and three runs. Madden Bogenreif was 3/4 with a home run and three RBIs. Cooper Klaahsen earned the win improving to 5-3 overall. She struck out seven in her 4.2 inning performance. Dakota State’s Maycee Bricker was credited the loss falling to 3-6 on the season.
UP NEXT: The Vikings will be on the road at Bismarck State College on Thursday, April 2 at 2:00 PM.