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VALLEY CITY, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – For the fourth time this season, Valley City State University has swept the NSAA Softball Player of the Week awards. Senior Emily Smith has been named NSAA Pitcher of the Week, and junior Riley Perryman is the NSAA Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7″ – Senior – pitcher – Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada – Smith picked up three wins on the week, allowing just four runs on 10 hits in 21 2/3 innings of work as Valley City State (N.D.) went 4-1 record. She tallied a total of 38 strikeouts, recording at least 11 strikeouts three times in four games. Smith held her opponents’ batting average to .133. It is the fourth time this season she has earned the weekly honor.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week
Riley Perryman – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7″ – Junior – outfielder – Cottage Grove, Minn. – Perryman hit three home runs and had three multi-hit games as Valley City State (N.D.) went 4-1 record for the week. She totaled eight RBIs and scored seven runs during VCSU’s 3-1 record weekend at Dickinson State (N.D.). Perryman was 9-of-18 at the plate and recorded a slugging percentage of 1.056 (three home runs, one double). She reached on base by a walk twice.

Recap from last week’s games
Valley City State (N.D.), receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, went 4-1 record for the week to raise their overall record to 14-4 and maintains the sole possession for first place in the conference standings with 7-1 record.  VCSU closed out the week with a 4-1 road victory at Dakota State (S.D.) on March 29.  The Vikings opened their four-game series with a pair of wins on April 2, shutting down Dickinson State (N.D.) 7-0 and 10-1.  DiSU earned a 3-1 victory on April 3 before VCSU closed the series with a 17-2 victory.

Dickinson State swept Waldorf (Iowa) 10-1 and 5-4 to finish off the four-game series in Forest City, Iowa on March 29.  The Blue Hawks are 15-9 overall record and 4-4 NSAA conference record.

Bellevue (Neb.) kicked off the week with an 8-1 victory at College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on March 31.  The Bruins split their four-game series at Viterbo (Wis.), recording a doubleheader split on each day on April 2-3.  BU won the first game 3-1 in eight innings, followed by VU 3-1 victory in the second game on April 2.  Bellevue won the first game on April 3 by the score of 7-2, while the V-Hawks closed the game with a 5-3 thrilling victory in eight innings.  Bellevue is 20-13 overall record and 6-2 record in the league.  Viterbo, who fell to No. 21-ranked Saint Xavier (Ill.) 12-0 and 7-4 in nine innings on March 30 during their ten-game home stand, is 5-17 overall record and 5-3 record in North Star contests.

The Trojans were swept by Mount Marty (S.D.) 3-1 and 8-1 on April 1.  DaSU earned a four-game series sweep over Waldorf in Forest City on April 2-3.  Dakota State won by the sore of 7-6 and 12-3 in five innings on April 2.  DaSU earned another sweep on April 3, recording 9-1 victory in six innings and 12-7.  The Trojans improved to 10-16 overall record and 4-4 record in North Star contests.  The Warriors fell to 3-15 overall record and 1-7 NSAA conference.

Mayville State (N.D.) won the first three games of the North Star four-game series at Presentation (S.D.).  The Comets won 10-1 and 8-4 on April 2.  MSU won the first game 2-1 on April 3 before the Saints closed out the four-game series with a 4-2 victory.  Mayville State is 7-13 overall record and 3-5 NSAA conference record.  PC is 3-17 overall record and 2-6 NSAA conference.

Looking Ahead
Dakota State (S.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) continue their North Star conference action Tuesday in a doubleheader in Bellevue, Neb.  Viterbo (Wis.) is slated to play an exhibition doubleheader at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-La Crosse on the same day.

Dickinson State (N.D.) continues their NSAA home stand on Wednesday with a doubleheader with Presentation (S.D.).

Dakota State plays a non-conference doubleheader at Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Thursday afternoon.

The North Star Athletic Association softball action returns to a full action on Saturday and Sunday with a four-game series.  Dakota State travels to Mayville State (N.D.), while Dickinson State (N.D.) stays home versus Viterbo.  Valley City State (N.D.) plays its first home NSAA games versus Bellevue (Neb.).  Presentation returns home as they host Waldorf (Iowa).