DICKINSON – Valley City State split a doubleheader against Dickinson State Saturday. Despite outscoring the Blue Hawks 18-5 on the day, the Vikings fell 3-1 in game one and took a demanding 17-2 victory in game two.
Valley City State is currently 14-4 overall this season and 7-1 in the NSAA. Dickinson State is 15-9 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
DSU 3, VCSU 1
Dickinson State posted three runs in the first inning, including a two-run homer from Madison Stephens to take a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Dickinson’s Jaya Allen held the Vikings scoreless through five innings until Autumn Perry‘s double in the sixth inning scored Marissa Hawkins. Despite tallying seven hits in the game, the Vikings couldn’t come closer as Dickinson State handed VCSU its first conference loss this season.
Amber Stewart got the loss Saturday, allowing three earned runs on five hits and striking out four. Jaya Allen picked up the win for Dickinson State, allowing one earned run on seven hits and striking out eight.
Joelle Aiello and Makenzee Stone each finished with two hits, and Hawkins, Perry, and Riley Perryman each added at hit for VCSU.
VCSU 17, DSU 2
Valley City State scored 17 runs on 16 hits in the second game, highlighted by Riley Perryman‘s three-run homer in the first inning.
Makenzee Stone scored Anne-Elise Gest on an RBI double followed by Perryman’s three-run home run to lock in a 4-0 advantage at the end of the first inning. An RBI single from Marissa Hawkins in the second inning and an RBI double in the third gave the Vikings a 6-0 lead.
Dickinson State’s Katelyn Kubitschek picked up a single in the fourth inning to secure the Blue Hawks’ first hit of the game. Hailey Enriquez then hit a two-run homer to trail 6-2. Valley City State put two more runs on the board in the sixth inning to lead 9-2.
VCSU’s bats came alive in the seventh inning, scoring eight runs on seven hits and two walks to to finish the dominating 17-2 victory over Dickinson State.
Makenzee Stone, Anne-Elise Gest, and Joelle Aiello (2) each doubled for the Vikings, and all nine batters recorded at least one RBI. Perryman led the way with three RBIs while Aiello, Marissa Hawkins, Andrea Rodriguez and Jessica Husband each recorded two. Stone and Perryman each scored three runs for VCSU.
Emily Smith got the win in the circle, allowing two earned runs on two hits. She also struck out 13 in 7 innings pitched.
UP NEXT: Valley City State hosts Bellevue University for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 10, at 1/3 p.m.