SIOUX CENTER, IOWA (VCSUVikings.com)– The Valley City State softball team dropped a pair of contests Friday at the Dordt Dome. VCSU fell 10-1 to Dakota Wesleyan in five innings, and then fell to No. 11-ranked Northwestern 13-6.
VCSU falls to 2-4 on the season and plays two more games at the Dordt Dome Saturday. The Vikings face Mount Marty at 1 p.m. and then tournament-host Dordt University at 5 p.m.
Dakota Wesleyan 10, VCSU 1 (5 innings)
Valley City State was defeated by Dakota Wesleyan in five innings to open play at the Dordt Dome. The Vikings totaled two hits in the first inning and Logan Gronberg drove in VCSU’s only run with an RBI single.
Dakota Wesleyan’s starting pitcher Ally Ernsberger then held off the Vikings from any more hits for the remainder of the game. Dakota Wesleyan then pulled away with four runs in each of the third and fourth innings including home runs from Jordyn Blogg and Alaina Johnson.
Gronberg got the loss for the Vikings after starting in the circle and working 2 and 1/3 innings. She allowed four runs on two hits, walked three and struck out two. Cooper Klaahsen and Rhyan Sigmeth made relief appearances for the Vikings and each struck out one batter.
Gronberg had a single, and Kylee Banerd doubled and scored VCSU’s lone run Friday for the Viking offense.
Dakota Wesleyan’s Ernsberger pitched 5 complete innings and allowed just one run on two hits. She struck out five and did not walk a single batter. Alessandra Ciurca led the Tigers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and one RBI.
No. 11 Northwestern 13, VCSU 6
The Vikings bounced back and totaled nine hits in its second game of the day, but it wasn’t enough to overcome No. 11 Northwestern who took the 13-6 victory.
VCSU garnered nine hits led by two apiece from Gronberg, Alyssa DePoorter and Madison Hazelton. DePoorter doubled and Gronberg homered for the Vikings.
The Red Raiders started with a 2-0 lead after the top of the first inning, but its lead was cut in half by Gronberg’s homer over the left field fence.
Northwestern found a second inning rally to build a 5-1 lead but the Vikings stayed in the game with a pair of runs on an RBI single from Maddy Zander and a sacrifice fly from Banerd to trail 5-3 after the second inning.
The Red Raiders gained just a run in the top of the third inning, and was answered with a run by the Vikings on a sacrifice fly by Zander. That would be all the Vikings could muster and Northwestern pulled away for the win, including a bases-clearing double from Tatum Schmalbeck.
Zander got the loss for VCSU after working 3 complete innings and allowing 10 earned runs on nine hits. She walked two and struck out two. Madison Hazelton pitched 4 innings in relief and allowed two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out two.
Abby Flanagan earned the win in the circle for Northwestern, tossing 5 innings in relief. She allowed three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out three. Kate Kralik started for the Red Raiders and allowed three runs on four hits while walking one and striking out four in 2 innings pitched.
Northwestern totaled 13 hits and four doubles on the day led by Schmalbeck who was 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs.