The Charger softball team dropped two close contests Friday afternoon, falling to Valley City State 5-2 and Dakota State 3-2 in Sioux Center, Iowa.
 
Game 1 vs Valley City State, L – 2-5
Valley City State struck early, scoring twice in the opening inning on a run-scoring double by Kylee Banerd and an RBI single from Kennadi Stone to take a 2–0 lead. The Vikings added single runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to build a 5–1 advantage.
 
The Chargers broke through in the fifth without recording a hit in the frame. Kaela Persico reached on an error and later scored when Sydney Mennenga drew a bases-loaded walk. The Chargers added another run in the seventh as Shelby Blankenship singled and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Lauryn Mattox.
 
Mattox pitched a complete game and recorded six strikeouts in the contest. Mennenga and Madi Keon each drew three walks in the contest while Sydney Ebel and Kenadee Loew each recorded a hit.
 
Game 2 vs Dakota State, L 2-3
The Trojans took an early 2-0 lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the third and fourth.
 
In the top of the sixth, a leadoff single from Montie Richter followed by a sacrifice bunt put her in scoring position. Richter stole third and with two outs, Mennenga recorded a RBI single to get the Chargers on the board. Mattox on the ensuing at-bat posted a double to drive in a run but was thrown out at third on the play.
 
The Trojans in the bottom of the eighth drove in the game winning run after a sacrifice bunt on the previous play to move the runner to third.
 
MJ Bannon pitched four innings and surrendered two runs scattered across eight hits while recording seven strikeouts.

The Chargers fall to 1-5 and will return to action tomorrow, as they take on Bismarck State at 9:00 a.m. and Dickinson State at 11:00 a.m. in Sioux Center, Iowa.