April 25, 2015
MADISON, S.D. – Playing 'under the lights' Saturday evening at Thue Softball Complex, Valley City State (N.D.) swept a pair of North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) conference games over Dakota State (S.D.). The Vikings posted scores of 12-6 and 14-4 in five innings. Both teams combined for 31 hits in the first game and 23 hits in the second game.
Dakota State fell to 4-31 overall record and 3-15 NSAA conference record. Valley City State moved above .500 with an overall record of 21-19 and 8-10 NSAA record.
Game 1: Valley City State (N.D.) 12, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL
The Vikings earned their first lead of the game at 1-0 in the opening inning after Cejay Hilhorst hit an RBI double to score Katie Cameron, who hit a single earlier. Mackenzie Hamre added an RBI single to score Hilhorst to extend VCSU's lead to 2-0.
Valley City State added three runs in the top second frame, thanks to a pair of doubles by Kelli Moore and Cameron. Cameron hit an RBI double to score Moore for 3-0 VCSU lead. Savannah McMillin produced a 2-RBI single to score Shayna Taffinder (who reached on base by DSU's defensive error), propelling to a 5-0 Vikings lead.
VCSU made it 7-0 after Cassie Pautz's RBI triple to score Hamre, who led off with a single in the third inning. The Vikings added a run caused by DSU's defensive miscue.
The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with a run scored in the bottom third frame. Harley Lindell drilled a double to lead off for DSU. Sara Erickson produced an RBI single to score Lindell as Dakota State scored its first run of the game, trimming Vikings' lead to 7-1.
Hilhorst recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score McMillin, who hit a triple with one out for the Vikings. VCSU's lead now stand at 8-1.
DSU's offensive outburst exploded for three runs in the bottom sixth inning. Brittany Hill started off with a double for the Trojans. Lynnie Angle produced an RBI single to score Hill as the Trojans trail 8-2. Lindell added an RBI double to score Angle to cut VCSU's lead to 8-3.
Shai-Lee Hill, pinch hitter for Ellie Kristensen, added an RBI single to score Lindell as the Trojans cut their deficit by four runs at 8-4 in the bottom sixth.
The Vikings answered back with four runs for a 12-4 lead in the top seventh inning with four hits, along with two defensive errors caused by the Trojans.
With bases loaded situation and two outs for DSU in the bottom seventh frame, Lindell recorded an RBI walk as the Trojans trimmed VCSU's lead to 12-5. Kristensen added an RBI single to reduce Vikings' lead to 12-6, but Valley City State secured the game as the Trojans left three runners on base.
Lindell was perfect at the plate by going 3-for-3 with three doubles and collected two RBIs for the Trojans. Brittany Hill added a double, single and scored two times. Erickson and Angle each had two hits and an RBI. Elizabeth Rubalcava had a double. Miller and Kristensen each had a hit. Kristensen had an RBI. Shai-Lee Hill recorded a single and an RBI.
McMillin earned a triple, two singles and recorded three RBIs for the Vikings. Hamre added three singles and an RBI. Katarina Boychuk, Cameron, Pautz and Moore each had two hits. Hamre, Taylor Schroeder, Pautz, Moore and Olivia Damge each had an RBI.
Valley City State had 17 hits in the game compared to Dakota State 14 hits. The Trojans left 10 runners on base, while the Vikings had 7 runners left on base.
Kristensen (4-17) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She gave up 12 runs (one unearned) on 17 hits.
Lindsey White (7-7) earned a complete game victory for VCSU. She allowed six runs on 14 hits.
Game 2: Valley City State (N.D.) 14, Dakota State (S.D.) 4 – FINAL/5 innings
The Vikings exploded for seven runs to kick off the second game of the four-game series. VCSU recorded six hits in the first inning while the Trojans committed two defensive errors for a 7-0 lead.
Valley City State added four runs in the top third frame to extend their lead to 11-0, highlighted by McMillin's 2-RBI double.
The Trojans ended their scoreless drought with three runs scored in the bottom third. DSU kicked off the bottom third inning with three straight singles by Kristensen, Erickson and Rubalcava. After Brittany Hill hit a fielder's choice to record a force out for Kristensen at home, Ariana Duran recorded an RBI ground out to score Erickson to cut VCSU's lead to 11-1.
Miller produced a 2-RBI single to score Rubalcava and Brittany Hill as the Trojans trail 11-3 in the bottom third frame.
McMillin's RBI sacrifice fly, Hilhorst's RBI triple and Hamre's RBI single highlighted the top fourth inning as the Vikings' lead grew to 14-3.
The Trojans scored once in the bottom fifth inning. With bases loaded and two out situation for DSU, Angle was hit-by-pitch and earned an RBI to trim their deficit to 14-4. The Trojans were unable to add more runs as they left bases loaded when the game ended, securing the victory for the Vikings.
Miller was 2-of-3 with two singles and two RBIs for Dakota State. Erickson and Rubalcava each added two singles and a run scored. Kristensen and Lindell each had a single. Duran had two singles and an RBI. Angle recorded an RBI.
Cameron collected three singles and scored twice for Valley City State. Hilhorst and Hamre each added two singles and two RBIs. McMillin had a double and tallied three RBIs. Boychuk had a hit and two RBIs. Schroeder recorded a hit and two RBIs. Pautz had two singles and an RBI. Moore earned a single.
VCSU had 13 hits compared to DSU 10 hits in the game. Both teams left eight runners on base.
Shai-Lee Hill (0-12) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for DSU. She worked for 2 2/3 innings and allowed 11 runs (6 unearned) on nine hits. Kristensen tossed 2 1/3 innings in relief, giving up three unearned runs on four hits.
Morgan Nalley (7-7) pitched a complete game victory for VCSU. She allowed four runs on 10 hits.
Dakota State and Valley City State conclude their NSAA four-game series on Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12 noon at Thue Softball Complex.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
