April 6, 2024

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to take advantage of their first lead in both games Saturday afternoon, despite being sweep by Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association softball action at Softball Complex on the campus of VCSU.  The Vikings completed the four-game series sweep of the Trojans with 9-1 and 11-1 victories, both games ending in five innings.

Dakota State fell to 5-20 overall record and 2-10 record in the North Star contests.  Valley City State raised their overall record to 20-15 and 12-3 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans step aside their conference play Wednesday afternoon, visiting in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) in a doubleheader.  The first game of the doubleheader is set for 5 p.m. at North-East Sertoma Field in Yankton, S.D.

Game 1:  Valley City State (N.D.) 9, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

Mackenzie Sims recorded a walk with one out in the top first inning for Dakota State.  She swiped to second base.  Michelle Evdos produced an RBI single with two outs to score Sims to give the Trojans a 1-0 early lead.

Valley City State answered with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning, sparked by back-to-back solo home runs by Ashlyn Diemert and Kennadi Stone to start (VCSU led 2-1).  With bases loaded situation and no outs, Makenzee Stone produced an RBI single to extend the Vikings' lead to 3-1.

VCSU plated four runs in the bottom second frame to balloon their lead to 7-1.

Sierra Crocker smashed a 2-run home run in the bottom fourth inning, scoring K. Stone for Valley City State 9-1 lead. 

Dakota State left a runner on first base when the game ended (Hannah McFarland's single with two outs), securing the victory for VCSU.

The Vikings outhit the Trojans 12-4 in the game. 

McFarland went 2-of-3 at the plate with two singles for DSU.  Evdos added a single and an RBI.  Alexus Foster drilled a double.  Sims registered a walk and a run scored.  She swiped one base.

Crocker had a home run, double, single and drove in two runs for VCSU.  She scored three times.  K. Stone added a home run, single, three runs scored, and an RBI.  Diemert had a home run and an RBI.  M. Stones tallied two hits and two RBIs.

Delaney Barrett (L, 4-7) recorded the setback in the pitching circle for Dakota State.  She allowed five runs on seven hits in two innings.  She recorded three strikeouts.  Jada Brown tossed two innings in relief, giving up four unearned runs on five hits.

Joelle Lamontagne (W, 7-4) earned a complete game victory for Valley City State.  She yielded one run on four hits and recorded four strikeouts.

Game 2:  Valley City State (N.D.) 11, Dakota State (S.D.) 1 – FINAL/5 innings

Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game for the second straight game on the same day.  McFarland led off with a single and swiped to second base.  Evdos hit an RBI single to score McFarland to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Valley City State exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the second inning, capped by a 2-RBI double from Crocker for a 5-1 lead.

Alyssa DePoorter drilled an RBI triple in the bottom third to widen the Vikings' lead to 6-1.  VCSU scored five more runs in the bottom fourth inning, highlighted by DePoorter's 2-RBI single with two outs for 11-1 lead.

DSU left a runner on first base after Jordyn Jeffries when the game ended in the top fifth inning, securing the win for VCSU.

The Vikings tallied 12 hits in the game compared to the Trojans two hits.

Evdos led Dakota State with a single and an RBI.  McFarland added a single and a run scored.  She swiped one base.  Jeffries registered a walk.

DePoorter paced Valley City State with a triple, single, and drove in three runs.  Logan Gronberg tallied three hits and two RBIs.  M. Stone added two hits and an RBI.  Crocker had a double and two RBIs.  Diemert and K. Stone each had a single and an RBI.

Maycee Bricker (L, 0-9) recorded the defeat after working for 3 2/3 innings in the pitching circle for the Trojans.  She allowed 11 runs (eight unearned) on 11 hits.  Analicia Burgos worked for one out in relief.

Maddy Zander (W, 11-6) earned the victory for the Vikings.  She pitched four innings and limited DSU to one run on two hits.  She recorded six strikeouts.  Rhyan Sigmeth worked a shutout fifth inning in relief.