Photo Courtesy VCSU Athletics
ABERDEEN, S.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State softball team rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the final two innings Friday, scoring a come-from-behind 6-5 win in their season opener.
VCSU scored five runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to earn a 6-5 victory over Dordt University at the Presentation College Dome Classic. In the second game of the day, the Vikings were shut out in a 6-0 loss to No. 20 Morningside College.
Valley City State is now 1-1 to start the season. The Vikings will play two more games Saturday in Aberdeen.
Up next: Valley City State is back in action Saturday with two more games at the Presentation College Dome. VCSU faces Briar Cliff at 10 a.m. and Dakota Wesleyan at 2 p.m.
VCSU 6, Dordt University 5
Valley City State rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the final two innings Friday, scoring a come-from-behind 6-5 win in their season opener.
VCSU trailed 5-0 and was being no-hit before breaking through for five runs in the top of the sixth inning. In the seventh, Autumn Perry‘s RBI groundout scored Marissa Hawkins for the game-winning run – capping a swift and stunning comeback.
Dordt starting pitcher Abby Kraemer shut the Vikings down with an impressive performance through the first five innings. Kremer struck out the first nine batters she faced and had a no-hitter through five innings.
The Vikings finally came alive with a 5-run sixth inning. VCSU sent nine batters to the plate, finishing the inning with five runs on four hits and two Dordt errors. Hawkins started the inning with a single – breaking up Kraemer’s no-hitter. Andrea Rodriguez followed with a single and Makenzee Stone doubled home Hawkins to put VCSU on the board. Joelle Aiello had the big hit with a 2-run triple, and Riley Perryman capped the rally with a sacrifice fly, tying the game at 5-5.
VCSU pitcher Emily Smith came on for the bottom of the sixth inning and struck out the side. In the seventh, Hawkins singled to lead off the inning and then moved up to third after a bunt and a single. She then scored on Perry’s groundout, putting the Vikings ahead 6-5.
Smith set the Defenders down in order in the seventh, finishing a perfect two innings in relief. Smith earned the win for VCSU, striking out four and allowing no hits in her two innings of work.
Joelle Lamontagne started in the circle for VCSU and took a no-decision allowing five hits and three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. She walked only one and struck out three. Amber Stewart pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief, striking out two while allowing three runs and two hits. Dordt scored three runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to build its 5-0 lead.
Hawkins went 2-for-3 with two runs, while Stone was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Perry and Aiello both added two RBIs in the victory.
It was VCSU’s first game of the season while Dordt had already played three games prior on Thursday night and Friday morning.
Morningside College 6, VCSU 0
Morningside College scored four runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 6-0 win over the Vikings.
The Vikings put plenty of balls in play – striking out only four times – but managed just two hits, one each by Joelle Aiello and Jessica Husband.
Morningside College finished with six runs on eight hits.
Amber Stewart started in the circle for VCSU, allowing four hits and three earned runs. Emily Smith pitched five innings in relief, giving up four hits and two earned runs. Smith walked one and struck out five. Joelle Lamontagne pitched one perfect inning as well.