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CITY, N.D (NewsDakota.com) It was a defensive affair for Valley City and the University of Jamestown as the softball teams meet up Shelly Ellig field getting the North Star Athletic Association regular season started in a little different venue.
Due to standing water on the softball field at VCSU, the two teams decided to meet over on the football field for the double header. The Vikings would find themselves on the short in both games despite playing strong defense. The Jimmies claimed victories of 4-1 and 3-2 on the day.
The win’s move the Jimmies to .500 on the year with an overall record of 11-11. The Vikings fall to 11-15 this season.
Univeristy of Jamestown 4 vs. Valley City 1
In the opening game of the day, it was a pitching clinic put on by the University of Jamestown’s Emily Snow. The former North Star Pitcher-of-the-Week award winner allowed just four hits and struck out 8 batters through seven innings.
The Jimmies took control of the game in the third inning when Sara Money slapped the ball into center field with bases loaded driving in two runs and giving Jamestown a three run advantage. The Vikings only run would come in the bottom of the same inning when Savannah McMillin hit an RBI single up the middle.
The Jimmies would score one more run in the fourth before claiming their first conference win in the North Star.
University of Jamestown 3 vs Valley City 2 (8 innings)
As the lights came on at Shelly Ellig Field, the two teams took the field for game number two.
It was another defensive standoff between the two teams, as runs did not come easy. The two sides combined left 23 runners stranded on the base paths.
The first run of the game didn’t come until the fifth inning when Megan Heriot over threw third base trying to intercept Valley City’s Shayna Taffinder on a steal attempt. The VCSU base runner quickly got up and slid safely to the plate giving the Vikings the early lead.
In the Seventh inning, with two outs against them, the Jimmies would tie the game when Money once again drove the ball into center field scoring Cassie Simenson, and forcing the game into extra innings.
It was there that the Jimmies would take their first lead of the game, scoring two runs on the Vikings. VCSU would give the Jimmies a scare when Liz Hall Sewell blasted a shot over the left field fence to bring the home team back to within one. However, with Snow stepping on the mound in relief, the Vikings would not be able to score again and the Jimmies would earn their second win of the night.
The Vikings return to North Star Play this afternoon when they host Mayville State. The Jimmies will host the same Comets team on Thursday at 3pm.