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CITY, N.D (NewsDakota.com) After sweeping Dakota State on Saturday 5-1 and 10-6 in a home double header, the Vikings softball team is on the cusp of earning their first conference championship since 1990.
The Vikings are 21-19 for the season and are 10-2 in the NSAA. The only other team with 10 wins in the conference is the University of Jamestown. The Jimmies have completed two more conference games, and they currently hold a 10-4 mark in the league. Both teams are still scheduled to play two North Star games this week. The Jimmies will meet Presentation College on Wednesday; The Vikings will possibly meet up with Mayville State on Tuesday afternoon.
The Vikings earned their 9th win of the season, on the back of pitcher Samantha Nalley. The Idaho native allowed just six hits while striking out three Trojans batters in a complete game.
Brittany Lehner and Mackenzie Hamre, put the first two runs on the board for the Vikings with RBI singles. A throwing error in the fourth frame from Dakota State would add one more run to the board for the home team. In the fifth, VCSU’s Liz Hall-Sewell would cap the game for the Vikings with a solo home run.
Valley City State 10 vs Dakota State 6
Back-to-back homers from Hall-Sewell and Lehner in the sixth would led the Vikings to a game two victory. With the game tied at four in the sixth, Hall-Sewell would help break things open with a two run shot. By the time the Trojans could force the Vikings off the field, six runs had come across for Valley City.
Lehner would finish the game 4-for-4 at the plate, leading a Vikings offense that finished with four different players earning at least two hits.
Coming on in relief, Ashley Metcalf grabbed the win for VCSU, pitching 4 1/3 innings. She struck out four batters and allowed just four hits and two runs.
The Conference tournament will begin on Friday afternoon, and will be played the University of Jamestown. Valley City will open play against Presentation College starting at 10:15pm.