From VCSU Athletics
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State softball team dropped its NAIA Softball Championship Opening Round game to the top team in the nation, University of Mobile, 11-3 Monday afternoon.
The Vikings took a 3-2 lead on Joelle Aiello‘s 2-run homer in the second inning, but the Rams put together a pair of 3-run innings in the second and third to take over advantage they would not give up the rest of the way.
VCSU drops to 33-17 on the season while No. 1 Mobile improves to 47-2. Valley City State will face No. 17 Our Lady of the Lake on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Mobile takes on No. 16 Coastal Georgia on Tuesday at 11 a.m.
VCSU scored all three of its runs in the second inning, kicked off by Ashlynne Copinga‘s RBI double that scored Ashlyn Diemert. Joelle Aiello immediately followed with a 2-run blast to left-center field to build a 3-2 Viking lead.
The Rams answered in the bottom of the second inning when Kaylee Pullin tripled, scoring two, and advanced home on a Viking error. Mobile’s Katie Head homered in the bottom of the third inning, and the Rams drove in two more in the fourth to lead 10-3. Pullin drove in the winning run with a single to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning to rout the Vikings by mercy rule.
Joelle Lamontagne got the loss in the circle for the Vikings after tossing 3 and 2/3 innings. She allowed 10 runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out two. Brooke Gaudry pitched one inning in relief and allowed one run on two hits while striking out one.
Joelle Aiello homered and drove in two runs for the Vikings while Ashlynne Copinga doubled and drove in one. Marissa Hawkins, Saige Forseth and Ashlyn Diemert each added a hit Monday.
Brinkley Goff picked up the win for Mobile while pitching 3 and 1/3 innings. She allowed just one hit and struck out five. Emily Butts started in the circle and allowed three runs on four hits in 1 and 2/3 innings of work.
Pullin led Mobile at the plate with two hits – including a triple – three RBIs and one run Monday. Four Rams doubled and five players had multiple hits in the game. Jaden Morace scored a game-high three runs for Mobile.
UP NEXT: VCSU will face No. 17 Our Lady of the Lake Tuesday afternoon in Gulf Shores. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.