The Valley City State University (VCSU) softball team will hit the road this weekend to take on the Bellevue Bruins in their opening series of the Frontier Conference season. The series will be held in Bellevue, Nebraska, as the Vikings look to improve their record and start the conference play on a high note.
Season Overview and Previous Matchups
The Vikings come into the series with a 10-11 record, while the Bruins are currently 9-11. Last season, the Vikings struggled against Bellevue, finishing with a 1-3 record in their matchups. This weekend’s games are expected to be competitive as both teams look to make their mark in the conference.
Vikings’ Performance in Arizona
The Vikings had a challenging trip to Arizona, where they faced tough competition and top pitchers. Despite the challenges, the team posted a solid .322 team batting average.
Kennadi Stone led the Vikings with a .450 batting average, recording seven extra-base hits including six doubles and a home run. Stone and Reagan Mieras tied for the team lead with eight RBIs. Stone also had an impressive .613 on-base percentage, aided by eight walks.
Other standout performances included Jenna Decker, who hit .414 on the trip, and freshman Pascale Kihn, who posted a .385 average while hitting in the leadoff spot for most of the games. Another freshman, Bailey Leroux, added a .389 batting average, raising her season total to .435.
Key Players and Stats
- Bailey Leroux leads the team with a .435 batting average.
- Kennadi Stone follows closely at .397 and leads the team with three home runs. She also has 16 RBIs.
- Pascale Kihn is hitting .391, while Kylee Banerd also has a .391 average.
- Jenna Decker rounds out the top hitters with a .382 average.
- Reagan Mieras leads the team with 19 RBIs, followed by Stone with 16 and Decker with 14.
Pitching Staff
Maddy Hazelton has been the workhorse in the circle, starting six of the nine games during the trip and pitching 25 innings with 18 strikeouts. She also earned two wins in Arizona.
Cooper Klaahsen provided valuable relief, pitching in six games with a 3.56 ERA, and she picked up a win in a stellar 4-inning relief performance in the Vikings’ 7-5 victory over Westcliff University.
For the season, Hazelton leads the team with five wins, 58.1 innings pitched, 56 strikeouts, and 14 appearances. Klaahsen has a team-leading 3.56 ERA in 13 appearances, with 39 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.
Looking Ahead
As the Vikings prepare for their opening Frontier Conference series, they will look to build on their strong performances from Arizona and continue their momentum. With a balanced offense and solid pitching, Valley City State will aim to start the conference season on a positive note.
