March 24, 2019
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Nationally-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) outscored Dakota State (S.D.) 11-1 and limited the Trojans to three hits to earn a 5-1 and 6-0 North Star Athletic Association softball conference doubleheader sweep. Both teams played at Presentation (S.D.) Dome Sunday afternoon and will conclude their four-game conference series opener Monday at 10 a.m.
Dakota State fell to 3-10 overall record and 0-2 NSAA conference record. Valley City State, currently No. 11 in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll and preseason coaches' favorite to win the league title, raised their overall record to 22-1 and 2-0 NSAA.
Game 1 – (11) Valley City State (N.D.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL
The North Star softball conference opener featured a pitcher's duel between DSU's Xitlali Lopez and VCSU's Emily Smith. The Trojans took the first lead after three innings, but the Vikings used a five-run sixth inning to earn a 5-1 victory.
After two-and-half shutout innings, DSU plated a run in the bottom half of the third frame. Taylor Poe led off with a hit-by-pitch. She advanced to second base caused by VCSU's miscue. Sarah Torres followed up with a single and advanced Poe to third base (Torres advanced to second base on the same play by a throw).
Melissa Krapf produced an RBI single to score Poe to give Trojans a 1-0 lead in the bottom third.
VCSU snapped their scoring drought after exploding for five runs in the top sixth inning, all runs scored with two outs. Joelle Aiello led off with a single. She advanced to second base after Smith hit a single with one out. Riley Perryman reached on base to set up a bases loaded situation for the Vikings.
Aiello was forced out at home after Marissa Hawkins' fielder choice as the Trojans prevented the Vikings to score. A wild pitch committed by DSU's Lopez allowed Renee Snyder (running for Smith) as VCSU knotted the game at 1-1 (Perryman advanced to third base and Hawkins to second base after the wild pitch).
Autumn Perry reached on base by a walk to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs for the Vikings. Kadie Anderson blasted a grand slam on the first pitch as the Vikings grabbed a 5-1 lead.
The Trojans prevented the Vikings to score in the top seventh inning, where VCSU left the bases full.
Smith retired the final three DSU batters to secure the victory for the Vikings.
Krapf had a single and an RBI for the Trojans. Torres added a hit. Poe scored a run.
Anderson led the Vikings with a grand slam and collected four RBIs. Aiello, Voni Culp, Perryman, Jayme Menard and Smith each had a hit.
VCSU outhit DSU 6-2 in the game. The Vikings left six runners on base compared to the Trojans two runs left on base.
Lopez (L, 1-5) took the defeat despite tossing a complete game for Dakota State. She gave up five runs on six hits and struck out four VCSU's batters.
Smith (W, 15-1) earned the victory after pitching a complete game for Valley City State. She yielded one run on two hits. She recorded 11 strikeouts and did not issue a walk in the game.
Game 2 – (11) Valley City State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL
Eight Valley City State batters recorded at least a hit in the second game of the four-game series, outhitting Dakota State 14-1 to earn a 6-0 shutout victory.
VCSU opened up the game with a 2-0 lead, thanks to back-to-back hits by Aiello and Culp. Aiello led off the game with a single, followed by Culp's double to advance Aiello to third base. Snyder produced an RBI ground out to score Aiello as Vikings grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Valley City State made it 2-0 in the top first inning after Perryman's sacrifice fly to score Culp.
The Vikings plated three more runs n the top fourth inning to balloon their lead to 5-0. VCSU kicked off the inning with four straight batters reaching safely on base. Tatum Lundin led off with a single, followed by Menard's RBI double to score Lundin for VCSU's 3-0 lead.
Aiello hit a single to advance Menard to third base (Aiello advanced to second base on the same play after a throw). Culp reached safely on base after a bunt, allowing Menard to score caused by DSU's defensive error for 4-0 lead. Perryman added an RBI sacrifice fly to score Aiello to widen Vikings' lead to five runs.
Valley City State scored once in the top fifth inning after DSU's defensive miscue.
Dakota State was limited to one hit in the game, a single by Jasmin Lucero in the bottom second inning. Krapf, Lopez, Torres and Tatum Ronke each reached on base by a walk.
Lundin was perfect at the plate for the Vikings, going 4-for-4. She swiped one base and scored once. Menard added a double, two singles and drove in a run. Aiello had two singles and two runs scored. Perryman had a hit and produced two RBIs. Culp had a double. Snyder registered a single and an RBI. Hawkins and Perry each had a hit.
The Vikings left 11 runners on base, while the Trojans had four runners left on base.
Stefani Gollin (L, 2-3) recorded the loss after working a complete game for Dakota State. She allowed six runs (two unearned) on 14 hits.
Emilee Wilson (W, 6-0) earned the victory in the pitching circle for the Vikings. She worked the first two innings and re-entered back in the sixth inning. Amber Stewart also worked for three innings in relief. Wilson gave up one hit in four scoreless innings, while Stewart tossed a shutout. Both Wilson and Stewart allowed two walks.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
