April 16, 2018
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) concludes their North Star's Softball four-game series with another doubleheader split at PC Dome Monday. The Vikings used a strong start in the first game, rolling to an 8-0 victory in six innings. Despite holding an early lead and trailing before entering the final inning of the second game, the Trojans stormed back for a 4-3 victory to earn a split.
Dakota State, who had played a total of 26 games at PC Dome this season, is 17-20 overall record and 11-9 record in North Star conference play. The Trojans also recorded its most overall wins for the first time since the 2009 season (17-28 overall record) and extended their most North Star conference wins since joining the NSAA conference in 2013-14.
Valley City State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll is 29-10 overall record and 12-4 record in North Star conference games.
Dakota State is scheduled to play a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, visiting No. 25-ranked Morningside (Iowa). The games will be played at SYA Complex in Sioux City, Iowa with the first game starting at 3 p.m.
Game 1 – (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL/6 innings
Valley City State took advantage of their fast start in the first game of the doubleheader and never looked back for an 8-0 victory in six innings. The Vikings pound out 15 hits in the game while holding the Trojans to just two hits.
VCSU produced four runs on five hits (four singles and a double) in the bottom first inning to gain a 4-0 lead over DSU.
The Vikings extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom second frame, highlighted by Joelle Aiello's single followed by a double by Kelsey Hamade. Emily Smith recorded an RBI ground out to score Aiello.
VCSU made it 6-0 in the bottom third inning after a lead-off solo home run by Jayme Menard.
Valley City State ended the game in the sixth inning after playing two runs with two outs.
Jasmin Lucero had a double for the Trojans. Xitlali Lopez added a single and a walk.
Aiello was perfect at the plate by going 4-of-4 with four singles and scored three times for the Vikings. Kelli Moore and Menard each tallied two hits and two RBIs. Kadie Anderson added two hits and an RBI. Smith recorded a double and two RBIs.
The Vikings left seven runners on base compared to the Trojans five runners left on base.
Stefani Gollin (L, 3-4) took the loss in the pitching circle for DSU. She worked for 5 2/3 innings and allowed eight runs on 15 hits. She recorded three strikeouts.
Haley Butterfield (W, 14-4) earned the victory after pitching 4 2/3 innings for VCSU. She yielded two hits. Smith worked for 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief.
Game 2 – Dakota State (S.D.) 4, (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) 3 – FINAL
Dakota State jumped to an early 2-0 first-inning lead in the North Star's four-game series finale. Valley City State rallied back by scoring a combined three runs in the fifth and sixth innings to overtake a 3-2 lead. The Trojans rallied back after plating two runs in the top seventh inning and held off the Vikings to earn a doubleheader split.
Kailee McFadden kicked off the game with a double for the Trojans. Taylor Poe followed up with a bunt single and advanced McFadden to third base. Lopez produce an RBI single with one out and scored McFadden to give DSU a 1-0 lead (Poe advanced to second base).
Lucero followed up with an RBI single to score Poe to extend Dakota State's lead to 2-0 in the top first frame.
The Vikings broke their scoring drought with a run scored in the bottom fifth inning. Hamade led off with a single and advanced to second base after Smith's sacrifice bunt. Moore hit a single and advanced Hamade to third base. Menard recorded an RBI ground out to score Hamade as VCSU trimmed DSU's lead to 2-1.
Valley City State mounted a comeback with two runs scored in the sixth inning with two outs. Anderson started the bottom sixth frame with a single. After Culp recorded a ground out to the pitcher's mound for the second out of the bottom sixth inning, Anderson advanced to second base.
Aiello reached safely on base by a fielder's choice as Anderson advanced to third base for VCSU. Aiello advanced to second base on the throw on the same play. Hamade produced a 2-RBI single to score Anderson and Aiello to overtake a 3-2 lead over the Trojans.
Dakota State answered back with two runs in the top seventh inning to regain the lead. Lopez hit a single with one out. Lucero blasted a 2-run home run over the left field fence as DSU took a 4-3 lead. It was her first home run this season for Lucero.
DSU prevented VCSU from scoring in the bottom seventh inning as the Vikings left a runner on first base when the game ended.
Lucero finished the game by going 3-of-4 at the plate with a home run, two singles and drove in a game-high three runs for the Trojans. Poe and Lopez each added two hits. McFadden had a double. Peyton Brokiewicz, Audrey Kosman, Tatum Ronke and Reanna Fitzgerald each recorded a hit. Autumn Madrigal reached on base by a walk.
Hamade was 3-of-4 at the plate with three singles and two RBIs for the Vikings. Moore added a double, single and swiped two bases. Smith, Clarissa De La Ossa, Anderson and Culp each had a hit.
DSU outhit VCSU 12-9 in the game. A total of 21 runners left on base were recorded in the game, 11 by the Trojans and 10 by the Vikings.
Lopez (W, 8-4) earned her second complete game victory in the four-game series for Dakota State. She gave up three runs on nine hits. She registered two strikeouts.
Nichole Reed started the game on the pitching mound for Valley City State. She tossed six innings and allowed two runs on nine hits. She struck out four DSU's batters. Smith (L, 8-2) blew the save opportunity in the final inning as she was tabbed the loss, giving up two runs on three hits.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
