Valley City Takes a Pair of High Scoring Affairs Over Viterbo

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Softball team dropped a pair of games to Valley City State University (ND) in a North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) doubleheader on Friday afternoon, 5-12 and 8-17. The V-Hawks fall to 6-20 (2-10 NSAA), while the Vikings improve to 12-17, (6-3 NSAA).

Valley City would start eh first game hot, with five runs scored in the top of the first inning, on three hits including a three-RBI home run. The Vikings would add to the lead in the top of the second, scoring three more runs on five hits to go up 0-8. After a sacrifice fly in the top of the third, and a two-RBI triple in the fourth, the Viking lead would grow to 0-11. Grace Brewer's RBI to score Megan Jardine would get the V-Hawks on the board in the bottom of the frame, and Amanda Bogdonovic's RBI to bring in Addie Schroeder made it 2-11. VU would close the gap with a Jardine RBI single in the fifth, followed by a two-RBI single for Brewer. VCSU would add a final run in the top of the sixth to extend the lead to 5-12 and the V-Hawks would not manage to secure another baserunner.

Brewer led the V-Hawks offense with three RBI's while hitting -for-two, and Jardine added another and went 3-for-4 at the plate. Ashlynne Copinga went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs for the Vikings.

Maddie Wilkey (L, 4-8) recorded the loss with a strikeout in 4.0 innings, and Joelle Lamontagne (W, 6-7) had four Ks.

Both teams would start the second game strong, as Valley City put up four runs on three hits, including a double and triple, but Viterbo would match the effort, scoring four of their own on a two-RBI single form Bogdonovic and a two-run home run by Morgan James. A sacrifice fly in the second gave the lead back to VCSU, but Viterbo would respond in a big way in the third, with four runs in the third on a James' second homer of the day bringing in Bogdonovic, and Courtney Denton and Haleigh Zanoni each recording an RBI. Three more for Valley City in the fourth on tied the game, and a two-RBI single in the fifth gave the Vikings the 8-10 lead. VCSU had a huge sixth inning, scoring seven innings, including three straight homeruns, to bring the score to 8-17 and the win.

James had a big game, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two homeruns. Bogdonovic also posted a pair of RBIs while going 2-for-3. Marissa Hawkins had four RBIs on 3-for-4 hitting. Ella Driebel (0-7) recorded the loss, and Payton Lamont added two strikeouts. Maddy Zander (W, 5-4) struck out five batters.

The teams will complete the series tomorrow, April 8 at 11 AM.