April 26, 2015

Photos taken by Brad Gilbert, DSU Head Athletic Trainer

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) battled with Valley City State (N.D.) in both teams' North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Softball conference regular-season finale Sunday afternoon at Thue Softball Complex.  The Trojans earned the first game victory by the score of 4-1 after limiting the Vikings to three hits in the game.  VCSU stormed back and defeated DSU 19-1 in five innings in the second game of the doubleheader as part of Trojans' Senior Day.

Dakota State is 5-32 overall record and 4-16 NSAA conference, securing the No. 6 seed for the upcoming conference postseason tournament which starts Friday at Thue Softball Complex.  Valley City State is 22-20 overall record and moved up to third place in the NSAA conference standings with a 9-11 conference record.

Game 1:  Dakota State (S.D.) 4, Valley City State (N.D.) 1 – FINAL

The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom first inning in the third game of the NSAA's four-game series.  Erica Belter led off with a single.  She advanced to second base after Sara Erickson hit a sacrifice bunt.  Elizabeth Rubalcava hit a ground out to shortshop and advanced Belter to third base.  Belter scored caused by VCSU's defensive error for 1-0 DSU lead.

The Vikings knotted the game at 1-1 in the top third inning with a pair of extra-base hits.  Katarina Boychuck hit a triple with two outs.  Katie Cameron produced an RBI double to score Boychuck for VCSU's first run of the game.

DSU broke up the 1-1 tie into a two-run lead in the bottom fifth frame, thanks to a pair of doubles.  Shai-Lee Hill had a double with two outs.  Lexy Miller reached safely to first base after the Vikings committed a defensive miscue, advancing Shai-Lee Hill to third base.  Lynnie Angle drilled a 2-RBI double to score Shai-Lee Hill and Miller to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead.

Dakota State made it 4-1 in the bottom sixth inning after Rubalcava's RBI double to score Belter, who led off with a single for the Trojans.

Valley City State went three-and-out in the top seventh inning, securing DSU's first home victory this season.

Belter was 3-of-4 at the plate with three singles and scored twice for the Trojans.  Angle had a double, single and collected two RBIs.  Rubalcava and Brittany Hill each added a hit and an RBI.  Shai-Lee Hill had a double and a run scored.  Harley Lindell and Ellie Kristensen each recorded a hit.

VCSU had a triple and single from Boychuck.  Cameron added a double and an RBI.  Cejay Hilhorst reached on base by a walk two times.

Dakota State outhit Valley City State 10-3 in the game.  The Trojans left nine runners while the Vikings had five runners left on base.

Kristensen tossed a complete game victory for DSU.  She allowed one run on three hits and recorded two strikeouts.

Ashley Metcalf (5-5) recorded the loss on the pitching mound for VCSU.  She pitched six innings and gave up four runs (two unearned) on 10 hits.  Metcalf struck out four DSU's batters.

Game 2:  Valley City State (N.D.) 19, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

The Vikings raced to a 5-0 opening lead in the final game of the four-game series.  Hilhorst hit an RBI double for VCSU's first run of the game and continued their scoring with Mackenzie Hamre's 2-RBI single, and a pair of runs scored caused by DSU's defensive errors.

Dakota State plated one run in the bottom second frame.  Miller hit a single and swiped to second base.  She advanced to third base after VCSU Kathleen Gallais' wild pitch.  Angle recorded an RBI ground out to score Miller as the Trojans cut Vikings' lead to 5-1.

Valley City State answered back with a run scored in the top third inning.  Kelli Moore reached on base by a single.  Olivia Damge recoded a walk to advance Moore to second base.  Gallais had an RBI single to score Moore to extend VCSU's lead 6-1.

The Vikings put together 5-run fourth inning as their lead grew to 10-1.  VCSU kicked off the inning with seven straight batter reaching safely on base. 

Valley City State continued their offensive outburst with eight runs scored in the top fifth inning to make it 19-1.  The Vikings had seven hits in the inning.

The Trojans went three-and-out in the bottom fifth inning, securing the victory for VCSU.

Rubalcava, Brittany Hill and Miller each had a single for Dakota State.  Miller swiped two bases. 

Every Viking batters recorded at least a hit and an RBI in the game.  McMillin went 4-of-5 at the plate with a triple and two RBIs.  Hilhorst added two doubles and two RBIs.  Pautz had three hits and three RBIs.  Hamre produced a single and three RBIs.  Cameron had two hits and an RBI.  Damge recoded a single, two RBIs and walked three times.  Boychuck and Gallais each had a hit. 

VCSU outhit DSU 18-3 in the game.  The Vikings left seven runners on base compared to the Trojans three runners left on base.

Kristensen (5-18) recorded the loss for DSU.  She worked for 3 1/3 innings and allowed six runs (three unearned) on eight hits.  Shai-Lee Hill pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up 13 runs (one unearned) on 10 hits. 

Gallais (4-3) earned a complete game victory for VCSU.  She tossed five innings and gave up one run on three hits.

Dakota State will play the top-seed Jamestown (N.D.) in the opening round of the NSAA Softball Conference Postseason Tournament Friday at 9 a.m. in Madison.  Valley City State will take on No. 4 seed Presentation (S.D.) in the opening round at 1 p.m. 

The Trojans stay busy as they head to Yankton, S.D. Monday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader versus in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.).  The first game of the doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. at Riverside Park.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director