The Charger softball team went 2-0 Monday, after beating Valley City State 11-5 and Mount Mary JV 9-0.
 
"Great way to start in Tucson AZ! Nice rematch with Valley City, Batcheller and Cain worked extremely well together keeping their strong offense at bay," said Head Coach TJ Eadus. "We put up 11 which makes their job easier. We Kept the offense going the second game moving runners and getting timely hits. Our goal going into this tournament was to be mindful of runners left on base and how best to turn them into runs. 
 
Game 1 vs Valley City State – W, 11-5
 
After both teams held each other scoreless for the first three innings, the Cliff busted the game wide open in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs in the inning. With two outs, Jessica James got on base off an error. A series of errors allowed for Kieya Belmont to reach second base, and James to plate the first run across. Karis Gifford drew a walk along with Karina Cupples reaching first on an error to load the bases.
 
On a passed ball, Belmont scored to put the Chargers up 2-0. Kylee Lukes the next at-bat drew a walk to load the bases back up. Aubrey Chichurka followed up with a two RBI-single to extend the lead to four. Rylee Cain hit an RBI-single to center field to add to the offensive barrage.
 
The Vikings in the bottom of the fourth would respond with three runs of their own to cut the lead to two.
 
Lukes in the top of the fifth recorded an RBI-single to give the Cliff a 6-3 lead.
 
The Charger bats stayed hot in the final frame, as Cupples recorded an RBI-single followed by a three RBI-triple from Lukes to put the Cliff up 10-4. Montie Richter added another run as she drove in Lukes on a sacrifice ground out.
 
Grace Batcheller earned the win in the pitching circle, throwing a complete game while only allowing one earned run. Gifford went three-for-three at the plate and drew two walks in the contest. Lukes went two-for-four with four RBIs and scored two runs in the contest.
 
Game 2 vs Mount Mary JV – W, 9-0
 
With two outs in the top of the first, Lukes on a nine pitch at-bat hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to drive in Gifford to score the game's first run.
 
In the top of the second, Gifford tacked on another run after a single pass the left infield drove in Hailey Yon. In the top of the fourth, Lukes recorded a two-RBI triple to put the Cliff up 4-0.
 
The Chargers led 9-0 in the top of the seventh after Lukes recorded a two-RBI double to drive in Gifford and Richter.
 
The pitching of Georgia Krohn, Malina Weerts, and Jolina Mancha limited Mount Mary's bats to just four hits and zero runs. Mancha recorded a team-high four strikeout.
 
Gifford went three-for-four at the plate with one RBI and scored three runs. Yon went two-for-four with two runs scored.
 
The Chargers will return to action tomorrow morning, with an early slate of games against the University of St. Francis at 9 a.m. and Dickinson State at 11 a.m. in Tucson, Arizona.
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