March 25, 2019
ABERDEEN, S.D. – No. 11-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) continued its dominance in the pitching circle and used a pair of fast starts to complete the North Star Athletic Association softball four-game series sweep over Dakota State (S.D.) Monday at PC Dome. The Vikings won by the scores of 7-3 and 8-1.
Dakota State dropped their fifth straight game, falling to 3-12 overall record and 0-4 NSAA conference record. Valley City State extended their winning streak to nine games, lifting their overall record to 24-1 and owns the sole possession for first place in the NSAA conference with a 4-0 record.
Game 1 – (11) Valley City State (N.D.) 7, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL
The Vikings erupted for four runs in the opening inning in the third game of the four-game series. Joelle Aiello led off with a bunt single. She advanced to second base after Voni Culp's ground out to third base. Renee Snyder produced an RBI single to score Aiello for VCSU's first lead of the game at 1-0.
Riley Perryman drilled a double and advanced Snyder to third base for the Vikings in the top first. VCSU continued its scoring surge as Marissa Hawkins hit a 2-RBI single to score Snyder and Perryman for 3-0 lead.
Tatum Lundin added an RBI single to extend Valley City State's lead to 4-0 in the first inning.
Dakota State answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Melissa Krapf led off with a single. Quinn Motichka reached safely on base on a fielder's choice and advanced Krapf to second base.
Nicole Stewart blasted a 3-run home run to left field on a 1-1 count as the Trojans trimmed Vikings' lead to 4-3. She tied the all-time school record 17th home run with Brittany Hill (2012-15).
It was all Valley City State after the first inning, where they held Dakota State to two hits in the final six innings.
The Vikings made it 6-3 in the top second inning after back-to-back RBI doubles by Perryman and Hawkins.
Hawkins hit an RBI single in the top fourth inning to balloon VCSU's lead to 7-3.
The Trojans were unable to convert their scoring chances in the final innings as they left two runners on base, securing the victory for the Vikings.
Stewart had a home run and collected three RBIs for DSU. Tatum Ronke recorded a double. Krapf and Annalisa Ingui each had a single. Ingui recorded a stolen base. Krapf and Xitlali Lopez each reached on base by a walk once. Krapf, Motichka and Stewart each had a run.
Hawkins led the Vikings' offense by going 3-of-4 at the plate with a double, two singles and drove in four runs. Perryman had two doubles and an RBI. Lundin registered two singles. Aiello, Culp, Snyder and Autumn Perry each recorded a hit. Culp swiped two bases.
VCSU outhit DSU 11-4 in the game. Valley City State left six runners on base compared to Dakota State five runners left on base.
Ingui (L, 0-3) took the loss in the pitching circle for the Trojans. She worked the first two innings and allowed six runs (two unearned) on eight hits. Stefani Gollin tossed five innings in relief, yielding VCSU to one run on three hits.
Emily Smith worked for the first two innings for the Vikings. She allowed three runs on three hits and recorded two strikeouts. Emilee Wilson (W, 7-0) earned the victory in relief, pitching five innings and limited the Trojans to one hit. She struck out nine DSU batters.
Game 2 – (11) Valley City State (N.D.) 8, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL
Valley City State used another fast start in the four-game series finale and never looked back to complete the sweep. The Vikings plated two runs in the opening inning to earn a 2-0 lead.
VCSU continued its scoring surge in the top third frame. Aiello and Culp led off with back-to-back singles. Snyder followed up with a 2-RBI double to score Aiello and Culp for a 4-0 lead in favor of the Vikings. Hawkins added an RBI single to score Snyder to balloon Valley City State's lead to 5-0.
Dakota State ended their scoring drought with a run scored in the bottom half of the third inning. Taylor Poe led off with a double. A wild pitch committed by the Vikings allowed Poe to advance to third base. Ronke produced an RBI sacrifice fly to score Poe as the Trojans trailed 5-1.
Valley City State retired the final 12 DSU batters to secure the win.
The Vikings scored two more runs in the top sixth inning to make it 7-1.
VCSU extended their lead to 8-1 after Kailee Fraser hit a solo home run in the seventh inning.
Taylor Poe had a double and a run scored for the Trojans. Ronke collected an RBI. Sarah Torres had a walk.
VCSU's first three batters went 7-of-11 combined at the plate as Aiello recorded three hits. Culp and Snyder each added two hits. Aiello, Culp and Snyder each had two runs scored. Fraser hit a home run and recorded an RBI. Hawkins, Lundin and Jayme Menard each registered a hit. Culp and Snyder each swiped two bases.
Valley City State outhit Dakota State 11-1. The Vikings left seven runners on base, while the Trojans had a runner left on base.
DSU used four different pitchers in the game. Jayme Knauer (L, 0-1) took the loss after pitching two innings and gave up two runs on three hits. Quincy Bates worked for 1 1/3 innings in relief and allowed three runs on four hits. Kaysea Luna pitched for two innings (one run on two hits). Madison Aldendifer worked the final 1 2/3 innings (two runs – one earned run on two hits).
Amber Stewart (W, 2-0) collected the victory after pitching five innings for VCSU. She allowed one run on one hit. Nichole Reed tossed two shutouts innings in relief.
Up Next
Dakota State steps aside their North Star conference play Thursday afternoon as they visit Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a non-conference doubleheader. The doubleheader will be held at Bishop Mueller Field on the campus of Briar Cliff in Sioux City, Iowa. First game is set for 3 p.m.
The Trojans return back to NSAA conference play this weekend. DSU is scheduled to host Waldorf (Iowa) in a four-game series Saturday and Sunday.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
