April 5, 2024

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – The Dakota State (S.D.) softball squad returned to action Friday afternoon for the first time since March 21-22.  The Trojans fell short in the North Star Athletic Association doubleheader to host-team Valley City State (N.D.) 6-1 and 5-3 at Softball Complex on the campus of VCSU.

Dakota State fell to 5-18 overall record and 2-8 record in the league.  Valley City State improved to 18-15 overall record and 10-3 North Star conference record.

Both teams wrap up their NSAA's four-game series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Game 1 – Valley City State (N.D.) 6, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL

After a scoreless first inning in the first game, Valley City State took the first lead of the game.  With runners on second and third bases, Maerin Dartnell hit a 2-RBI single with two outs to give VCSU a 2-0 lead.

Dakota State snapped its scoring drought with a run in the top fourth frame.  Michelle Evdos hit a single with one out.  She advanced to second base after Jordyn Jeffries' sacrifice bunt.  Gabrielle Ortega-Alves produced an RBI single to score Evdos as the Trojans trailed 2-1 with two outs.

VCSU extended their lead to 3-1 in the bottom fourth as Logan Gronberg hit a lead-off solo home run.

Dartnell added a lead-off solo home run in the bottom fifth inning to widen the Vikings' lead to 4-1.

Valley City State added two runs, highlighted by Alyssa DePoorter's RBI double.  The Vikings led 6-1 after six innings.

The Trojans left a runner on second base when the game ended, securing the victory for VCSU.

The Vikings outhit the Trojans 8-5 in the game.  DSU left seven runners on base compared to VCSU three runners on base.

Hannah McFarland led Dakota State with a double and single.  Evdos added a single, walk, and run scored.  Ortega-Alves had a single, walk, and an RBI.  Ally Morrissey tallied a single.

Gronberg led Valley City State with a home run, single, and an RBI.  Dartnell added a home run, single, and drove in three runs.  DePoorter hit a double and collected an RBI.  Ashlyn Diemert, Saige Forseth, and Makenzee Stone each had a hit.

Delaney Barrett (L, 4-6) took the setback in the pitching circle for DSU.  She tossed five innings and allowed four runs (two unearned) on five hits.  Mason Usselman pitched one inning in relief, giving up two runs on three hits.

Joelle Lamontagne (W, 6-4) earned the victory for VCSU.  She pitched five innings and gave up one run on five hits.  Gronberg (S, 4) earned the save in relief, tossing two shutout innings.

Game 2 – Valley City State (N.D.) 5, Dakota State (S.D.) 3 – FINAL

Dakota State took the first lead in the second game of the four-game series but could not overcome Valley City State's four-run explosion in the bottom half of the first frame.

Mackenzie Sims hit a single with one out for DSU In the top first.  She advanced to second base after Rosie Philop's ground out.  Evdos produced an RBI single to score Sims for 1-0 Trojans' lead.

The Vikings plated four runs in the bottom first.  After Diemert's lead off walk, Kennadi Stone drilled an RBI double to score Diemert as VCSU tied the game at 1-1.

Valley City State took a 2-1 lead as Sierra Crocker followed up with an RBI single to score K. Stone in the bottom first.

Forseth and Gronberg hit back-to-back singles to set up a bases loaded situation (Crocker to third base) for VCSU in the bottom first.  Dakota State made a double play defensively, while Maddy Zander produced an RBI to score Crocker for 3-1 Vikings lead (Forseth advanced to third base after the double play).

M. Stone followed up with an RBI single to score Forseth as Valley City State led 4-1 after the first inning.

The Trojans scored once in the top fourth inning to trim the Vikings' lead.  Olivia Peterson recorded a walk with one out and swiped to second base.  Hannah Feser hit an RBI single to score Peterson as DSU trailed 4-2.

Valley City State made it 5-2 in the bottom fourth as K. Stone hit a two-out RBI single to score Dartnell, who hit a double with one out.

Peterson blasted a lead-off triple in the top sixth inning for Dakota State.  Feser followed up with an RBI single to score Peterson as the Trojans trimmed the Vikings' lead to 5-3.

DSU could not convert their scoring chances in the final inning, leaving two runners on base after a pair of singles from Evdos and Ortega-Alves.

The Trojans outhit the Vikings 13-12 in the game.  Dakota State left 11 runners on base compared to Valley City State seven runners left on base.

Evdos led Dakota State by going 3-of-3 at the plate with a double, two singles, a walk, and an RBI.  Feser added two singles and two RBIs.  McFarland and Morrissey each tallied two singles.  Peterson had a triple, walk, and scored twice.  Sims, Ortega-Alves, and Alexus Foster each registered a hit.

Gronberg led the Vikings with three singles.  K. Stone added a double, single, and two RBIs.  Crocker and M. Stone each had a hit and an RBI.  Dartnell had a double and single.  Crocker recorded a hit and an RBI.

Maycee Bricker (L. 0-8) took the defeat, despite tossing a complete game for Dakota State.  She allowed five runs on 12 hits.

Zander (W, 10-6) earned the victory after pitching five innings for Valley City State.  She gave up three runs on nine hits and registered five strikeouts.  Gronberg (S, 5) earned the save after pitching two scoreless innings in relief.  She scattered four hits and recorded three strikeouts.