ABDERDEEN, S.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- Valley City State’s pitchers combined to allow just three hits and only one run on Sunday as the No. 11-ranked Viking softball team swept its conference openers against Dakota State University.
Playing inside the Presentation College Dome, VCSU won the conference opener 5-1 behind a complete-game pitching performance from Emily Smith. In game two, Emilee Wilson and Amber Stewart combined on a one-hit shutout as the Vikings finished the doubleheader with a 6-0 victory.
The trio of Viking pitchers combined to give up just one run and three hits while striking out 18 batters in the doubleheader. The Viking defense was strong behind them as well, committing only one error all day. Sunday was the first time VCSU had played since finishing its spring trip back on March 11.
“It was good to get back on the field,” said head coach Mike Mook. “We had some strong pitching and some clutch hitting today, and our defense was solid overall.”
Valley City State improves its overall record to 22-1 and is now 2-0 to start conference play. The Vikings and Trojans will rematch for another doubleheader Monday at 10 a.m. inside the Presentation College Dome.
VCSU 5, Dakota State 1
Kadie Anderson hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie as the Vikings opened the conference season with a 5-1 victory.
VCSU trailed 1-0 entering the top of the sixth, but loaded the bases with two outs. Renee Snyder scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1. After Autumn Perry drew a walk to load the bases again, Anderson went deep over the left-field fence for a go-ahead grand slam.
Emily Smith was lights out in the circle for VCSU, giving up just two hits and one run. She did not walk anyone and struck out 11. After allowing an RBI single in the third inning, Smith and the Viking defense set down the final 14 Dakota State batters in order to finish the game.
VCSU finished with six hits in the game, none bigger than Anderson’s grand slam. Three of those hits came during the sixth-inning rally. All six hits were by different players.
VCSU 6, Dakota State 0
Emilee Wilson and Amber Stewart combined to pitch a one-hit shutout in game two, leading the Vikings to a 6-0 victory.
Wilson started and pitched four innings to pick up the win, allowing just one hit. She walked two and struck out four. Stewart pitched three no-hit innings to finish the game and earn the save. Stewart walked two and struck out three.
The Vikings struck fast with two runs in the top of the first inning. Joelle Aiello and Voni Culp opened the game with a single and a double, and then later came in to score on Renee Snyder’s groundout and Riley Perryman’s sacrifice fly. The Vikings tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning and a single run in the fifth for the final margin of 6-0.
Tatum Lundin went 4-for-4 at the plate and scored a run for VCSU. Jayme Menard was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Aiello tallied two hits and two runs, and Perryman had a hit and two RBIs.