May 6, 2021
BELLEVUE, Neb. – Top-seeded and regular-season champion Valley City State (N.D.) raced to a five-run lead after two innings and never looked back for a 5-0 victory over fifth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) in the winner's bracket of the North Star Athletic Association softball postseason tournament Thursday evening at Lied Field. It was the first defeat for the Trojans in the double-elimination format.
Dakota State's three-game winning streak came to an ended, falling to 19-33 overall record. Valley City State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, had ballooned their winning streak to 17 games and raised their overall record to 34-5.
DSU plays an elimination game against seventh-seeded Waldorf (Iowa) Friday at 12:30 p.m. on the South Field. The winner of this game will move on to another loser's out contest at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of No. 4 seed Mayville State (N.D.)-No. 2 seed Bellevue (Neb.). BU fell short in a pitcher's duel with third-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.) 1-0 in 10 innings, featuring a total of 28 strikeouts in the game.
Valley City State faces Dickinson State in the winner's bracket Friday at 3 p.m. The winner will secure a spot in the North Star Athletic Association's championship game, which is set for Saturday at 3 p.m.
(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 0 – FINAL
- Valley City State plated three runs in the opening inning. Joello Aiello led off with a single, followed by Anne-Elise Gest's walk to advance Aiello to second base. Both Aiello and Gest advanced one base after Marissa Hawkins' ground out.
- Makenzee Stone reached safely on base after an RBI sacrifice bunt with DSU's defensive error, allowing Aiello to score to give VCSU a 1-0 lead (Gest advanced to third base).
- Stone followed up with a stolen base to second base for the Vikings in the bottom first. Autumn Perry drilled a 2-RBI double to score Gest and Stone to extend their lead to 3-0.
- Valley City State added two runs in the bottom half of the second inning. Andrea Rodriguez led off with a single. Jessica Husband reached safely on base caused by Trojans' defensive miscue, advancing Rodriguez to second base. Aiello blasted a 2-RBI triple to score Rodriguez and Husband for 5-0 VCSU lead.
- Dakota State could not convert their scoring chance as they left a runner on third base. Elizabeth Whitesides led off with a walk. She swiped to second base and advanced to third base after Alexus Foster's ground out.
- Sarah Torres and Xotchil Lopez each hit a single in the final inning for DSU but could not produce their scoring chances as the Vikings secured the victory.
- DSU was held to three singles in the game. Julia Andersen, Torres, and Xo. Lopez each tallied a single. Whitesides reached on base by a walk and swiped one base.
- Aiello paced VCSU by going perfect at the plate (3-of-3) with a triple, two singles and drove in two runs. Perry added a double, single, and collected two RBIs. Stone recorded an RBI. Rodriguez had a single and a walk. Gest recorded two walks.
- Valley City State outhit Dakota Stat 6-3 in the game. The Vikings left seven runners on base compared to the Trojans three runners on base.
- Xitlali Lopez (L, 14-14) took the defeat, despite tossing a complete game for DSU. She allowed five runs (three unearned) on six hits. She recorded five strikeouts in the game.
- Emily Smith (W, 20-1) earned the victory after pitching a complete game for VCSU. She limited the Trojans to three hits and registered six strikeouts.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
