VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- Valley City State University junior Emily Smith has been named the North Star Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced Monday night.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’5″ – Junior – Pitcher – Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada – Smith was dominant in No. 11-ranked Valley City State’s conference opener.  She threw a complete game 2-hitter in a 5-1 win over Dakota State (S.D.). After giving up an RBI single in the third inning, Smith set down the final 14 batters in order to finish the game.  She finished the game with 11 strikeouts and did not issue a walk. It was Smith’s 15th win of the season, which ranks her third in the NAIA. She is second in the NAIA with 129 total strikeouts.

Valley City State (N.D.), ranked No. 11 in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, extended their winning streak to nine games after a four-game North Star conference series opener sweep over Dakota State (S.D.) at PC Dome in Aberdeen, S.D.  The Vikings shut down the Trojans by the scores of 5-1 and 6-0 on March 24, followed by 7-3 and 8-1 victories on March 25.  VCSU raised their overall record to 24-1 and earned a sole possession for first place in the North Star standings with a 4-0 record.  Dakota State fell to 3-12 overall record and 0-4 NSAA conference record.