Bad start dooms Jimmies in 10-6 loss to Valley City State

The University of Jamestown softball team was not able to repeat the pitching exploits of their first game of the doubleheader at the Presentation College Bubble, giving up eight runs in the first two innings on their way to a 10-6 loss on Friday, Feb. 18, against Valley City State University.

The Vikings (5-5) burst open the gates in the bottom of the first inning with the first three hitters getting on to load the bases. The fourth batter of the inning kept the train moving with an RBI single.

The Jimmies (5-2) would respond in the top of the second on an RBI fielder’s choice from Ally Battistoni. The Jimmies would attempt to claw their way back in the fifth and six innings by scoring five runs on six hits, but it wouldn’t be enough.

The Jimmies return to the diamond at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, when they take on Dickinson State. The Vikings look to go above .500 at 10 a.m. Saturday when they face Dakota Wesleyan.

UJ 6, VCSU 10

UJ: 0 1 0 0 3 2 0—6 8 0

VCSU: 6 2 0 1 0 1 X—10 13 1

Scoring plays:

First inning:

VCSU: Marissa Hawkins RBI single, Riley Perryman scores

VCSU: Joelle Aiello scores on a wild pitch

VCSU: Andrea Rodriguez RBI single, Anne-Elise Gest scores

Second inning:

UJ: Ally Battistoni reaches on a fielder's choice, Megan Neiles scores

VCSU: Sierra Crocker RBI single, Aiello scores

VCSU: Jessica Husband RBI single, Gest scores

Fourth inning:

VCSU: Michelle Krahn RBI double, Ashylnne Copinga scores

Fifth inning:

UJ: Gentrey Turin RBI double, La La Romero scores

UJ: Molly Haley sacrifice ground out, Turin scores

UJ: Santina Zito scores on an error

Sixth inning:

UJ: Zito 2 RBI single, Turin, Romero score

VCSU: Husband sac fly, Hawkins scores

WP: Brooke Gaudry (1-1), LP: Katie Merchant (2-1)