March 27, 2021

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) battled in a close contest through five innings in the North Star Athletic Association softball opener Saturday afternoon at Thue Field.  Leading 7-6, the Vikings exploded for 11 runs to kick off the conference season opener with an 18-6 victory in six innings.

Dakota State fell to 6-11 overall record (0-1 NSAA conference record).  Valley City State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 8-3 (1-0 NSAA conference record).

Game 2 of the doubleheader was halted due to rain, changing to snow.  Both teams will play a tripleheader Sunday, with the first game starting at 11 a.m.

(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) 18, Dakota State (S.D.) 6 – FINAL

• Valley City State kicked off the game by drilling back-to-back doubles by Joelle Aiello and Anne-Elise Gest for a 1-0 lead.  Sierra Corcker followed up with a sacrifice bunt to advance Gest to third base.
• The Vikings extended their lead to 2-0 in the top first when Makenzee Stone blasted an RBI triple to score Gest. 
• After Riley Perryman was hit-by-pitch, Autumn Perry followed up with an RBI single to score Stone as the Vikings' lead grew to 3-0.
• Dakota State answered by exploding for five runs in the bottom half of the first frame.  Madison Aldendifer reached on base by a walk with one out.  Sarah Torres followed up with a single to advance Aldendifer to second base.
• Xitlali Lopez drilled a 2-RBI double to score Aldendifer and Torres as the Trojans trailed 3-2 in the bottom first.  Xotchil Lopez reached on base by a walk, forcing the Vikings to change pitcher.
• Lia Chan added an RBI double to score Xi. Lopez as DSU tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom first inning (Xo. Lopez advanced to third base).
• Dakota State earned its first lead of the game at 4-3, thanks to VCSU's defensive error for stolen base attempt at third base allowing Xi. Lopez to score home (Chan advanced to third base).
• The Trojans ballooned their lead to 5-3 after Melissa Krapf hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Chan in the bottom first frame.
• Valley City State answered back with two runs in the top second inning.  The Vikings started the inning with a bases loaded after Jessica Husband's single, Aiello's hit-by-pitch, and Gest's walk.  The Trojans' defense recorded its first out after a pop-out by Crocker.
• VCSU's Marissa Hawkins reached on base by a fielder's choice as Husband was forced out at home for the second out of the top second inning.  Stone hit a 2-RBI single to score Aiello and Gest as the Vikings tied the game at 5-5.
• The Vikings broke up the 5-5 tie into a 7-5 lead with two runs in the top fourth.  Aiello led off with a walk, followed by Gest's triple to score Aiello for 6-5 VCSU lead.
• Hawkins produced an RBI single to score Gest as VCSU extended their lead by two runs in the top fourth frame.
• Julia Andersen hit a triple with one out for the Trojans in the bottom fourth frame.  Torres reached safely on base caused by VCSU's defensive error with two outs, allowing Andersen to score as DSU trailed 7-6.
• Valley City State poured in 11 runs in the sixth inning, highlighted with four extra-base hits.  Perryman capped the inning with 3-RBI base-clearing double to balloon their lead to 18-6.
• The Vikings secured the game by holding the Trojans scoreless in the bottom sixth inning.
• Xi. Lopez led the Trojans with a double and drove in two runs.  Chan added a double and an RBI.  Krapf added a single and an RBI.  Andersen had a triple.  Torres recorded a single. 
• Aldendifer, Xi. Lopez, Xo. Lopez and Chan each had a walk for DSU.  Andersen, Aldendifer, Torres, Xi. Lopez, Xo. Lopez and Chan each scored a run.
• Valley City State registered eight extra-bases hits in the game, paced by Stone with two triples.  She had a single and drove in a game-high five runs. 
• Gest added a triple, double, scored four runs, and produced three RBIs for VCSU.  Perryman added two doubles and collected four RBIs.  Hawkins tallied a double, two singles and four RBIs.  Aiello had a single, two walks, stolen base, and scored four runs. 
• Crocker, Perry, Keana Harmon, Andrea Rodriguez and Husband each had a hit for the Vikings.
• Valley City State outhit Dakota State 16-5 in the game.  The Vikings left eight runners on base compared to the Trojans four runners left on base.
• Xi. Lopez (L, 4-4) recorded the setback in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She gave up 14 runs on 14 hits in five-plus innings.  She struck out five VCSU's batters.  Aldendifer worked for one inning in relief, allowing four runs on two hits.
• Joelle Lamontagne started the game for Valley City State.  She gave up four runs (one unearned) on two hits.  Amber Stewart (W, 3-1) earned the victory after tossing 5 2/3 innings in relief.  She allowed two runs (one unearned) on three hits.  She recorded five strikeouts.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director