James Makes History in Final Game of the Season

DICKINSON, ND – The Viterbo University Softball team's season came to an end on Saturday night with a 5-8 loss to Dickinson State University (ND) in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) tournament.  The V-Hawks end the season at 18-28 while the Blue Hawks look forward to a matchup with Dakota State University (SD).

Brittany Slocum earned an RBI walk in the top of the first inning to get the V-Hawks on the board, and Morgan James put VU up 2-0 with a solo home run in the third. Two errors by the V-Hawks would allow three runs for DSU in the bottom of the third, and four hits by Dickinson in the fourth added four more runs. They would add one final run in the fifth on an RBI single. In the top of the seventh. Makayla Nortman would reach base on an error and Amanda Bogdonovich would score, and Sydney Haakenson's double would bring home Nortman. Marissa Carter-Olson hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Haakenson, but the rally would end there.

James and Haakenson each had a hit and an RBI for the V-Hawks, while Rhea Paiva scored twice on two hits with two RBIs for DSU. Maddie Wilkey (L, 7-12) recorded the loss, and Morgan Fuhrer had three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Ari Martinez (W, 6-8) recorded the win and Dallis Mitchell the save.

James RBI brings her season total to 41, a Viterbo record, and her 10^th home run ranks her third on the single season leaderboard. She also breaks the top-five in career RBIs, and ranks second in all-time home runs. Channing Manske also reached the top-five in career stolen bases this year.