ABERDEEN, S.D. – Valley City State and Dakota State played a pair of close games Sunday night as the Vikings and Trojans split a North Star softball doubleheader at the Presentation College Dome.
Dakota State put together just enough offense in game one as they picked up a 2-1 victory in a pitcher’s duel. Game two went to the Vikings as they scored five runs in the first three innings and held on for a 5-3 victory.
VCSU is now 28-9 overall and 11-4 in the North Star Athletic Association. Dakota State moves to 16-19 overall and 10-8 in the NSAA.
Up next: The Vikings and Trojans meet again Monday morning at the Presentation College Dome. The doubleheader starts at 10 a.m. and will be broadcast on Q101.1 FM and newsdakota.com. The doubleheader will be the 22nd and 23rd games inside the PC Dome for VCSU this season.
Dakota State 2, VCSU 1
Xitlali Lopez pitched a complete game for Dakota State, allowing seven hits and just one run as the Trojans took game one. Lopez did not walk anyone and struck out one.
Each team scored a single run in the first inning and then Dakota State pushed across the game-winning run in the top of the fourth on Autumn Madrigal’s RBI single.
Haley Butterfield started in the circle for VCSU, giving up five hits and two run in 3 1/3 innings. Emily Smith gave on in relief and scattered five hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Joelle Aiello and Kelli Moore each had two hits for VCSU and combined to score VCSU’s run after Aiello opened the first inning with a double and Moore later drove her in with an RBI single. Voni Culp, Emily Smith and Kelsey Hamade each had a hit for VCSU.
Nicole Stewart went 3-for-4 for Dakota State. Xitlali Lopez and Audrey Kosman each had a pair of hits, and Lopez and Madrigal drove in the Trojans’ two runs.
VCSU 5, Dakota State 3
Valley City State scored three runs in the second inning and two more in the third to build a 5-1 lead they wouldn’t relinquish in game two.
Tatum Lundin’s two-run home run in the bottom of the second completed the three-run inning and put VCSU up 3-0. Dakota State answered back with a single run in the top of the third, but the Vikings kept the momentum with two mores run in the bottom half of the inning. Emily Smithdoubled home Kelsey Hamade for a 4-1 lead, and then Jayme Menard singled home Smith to put VCSU up 5-1.
Dakota State cut into the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth inning, but VCSU starting pitcher Nichole Reed induced three straight ground outs to end a bases-loaded threat. Emily Smith came on to pitch the seventh inning and set Dakota State down 1-2-3 to earn the save.
Reed gave the Vikings six strong innings to pick up the win, allowing just four Trojan hits and three runs. She walked one and struck out three.
Seven Vikings had one hit each in the game. Lundin drove in two with her home run, while Smith, Menard and Kadie Anderson each had an RBI.
Nicole Stewart had two hits for Dakota State. Lopez and Peyton Brokiewicz each had a hit and RBI.
Kelly Drake pitched a complete game for Dakota State, allowing seven hits and five runs in six innings. She walked one and struck out two.