SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – The Valley City State University softball group picked up a pair of wins at the ASB Sports Complex Classic on Friday, Feb. 20. The Vikings began the day with a 3-2 win over Morningside University and completed the afternoon with a 4-2 win over Briar Cliff University.
The Vikings are actually 6-4 total to begin the season. VCSU handed Morningside its first lack of the 2026 season, making them now 3-1. Briar Cliff is now 3-6 after their loss to the Vikings.
VCSU took down Morningside University 3-2 in recreation one. With the primary pitch at midday, Maddy Hazelton began her full recreation with a strikeout. Last week’s Frontier Conference pitcher of the week discovered herself in uncommon territory after a pair of walks and a handed ball superior runners to second and third. With one out, Hazelton then led Morningside’s 4 and 5 hitters right into a strikeout and groundout, escaping the inning.
The Vikings discovered their rhythm later within the second inning when Kennadi Stone reached on a stroll, stole second, and moved to 3rd on a throwing error. Ahleeya Nicola reached on a fielder’s alternative that introduced residence Stone, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
Morningside would later reply with two runs within the fourth. They scored two on a single with base runners on second and third, taking a 2-1 lead. VCSU rapidly responded within the backside half as Stone singled and later scored on R Mieras’ RBI base hit to even the rating at 2-2.
The decisive second got here within the sixth. J. Decker singled to heart and swiped second earlier than Okay. MacNeill adopted with a single. With strain mounting, MacNeill stole second, and Decker raced residence on the double steal to provide the Vikings a 3-2 lead. From there, VCSU’s protection shut the door. Morningside put the tying run on base in each the sixth and seventh innings, however the Vikings stranded runners every time, sealing a hard-fought win.
Vikings Maddy Hazelton pitched an entire recreation, incomes the win whereas throwing 4 strikeouts. Reagan Mieras was 1-for-2, with one RBI. Kennadi Stone went 1-for-2 and scored two Runs
Later within the 4:00 p.m. recreation, the Vikings defeated Briar Cliff for the second time this season, this time with a rating of 4-2. Valley City State set the tone early, leaping out to a 1-0 lead within the first inning because of a solo residence run from Jenna Decker. Briar Cliff was held hitless with three strikeouts within the first inning delivered by Grace Folkema. The Chargers then tied the sport within the second on an unearned run and added a sacrifice fly within the third to go up 2-1.
The Vikings’ breakthrough got here within the fifth inning. Reagan Mieras delivered an RBI single to tie the sport, and A. Nicola adopted with a sacrifice fly to provide the Vikings a 3-2 benefit. VCSU added an insurance coverage run within the sixth when Decker got here by way of once more, on an RBI double to attain P. Kihn and prolong the result in 4-2. Despite Briar Cliff loading the bases within the seventh, VCSU recorded the ultimate strikeout to shut out a 4-2 victory.
VCSU’s Cooper Klaahsen was awarded the win, transferring to 1-1 on the season after pitching 4.2 innings with 5 strikeouts, yielding solely one hit. Jenna Decker went 2-for-3, with a house run and two RBIs. Reagan Mieras was 2-for-4, with one RBI. Pascale Kihn was 2-for-4, with one run.
UP NEXT: The Vikings are set to tackle Doane and Northwestern on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.