CASSELTON, N.D (vcsuvikings.com) – The Valley City State softball team split a doubleheader against Doane University Saturday afternoon, falling 5-4 in game one and picking up a 1-0 victory in game two.
Emily Smith pitched her first career no-hitter in the second game Saturday, setting a new school record with 51 career wins. Charlene Griffin held the previous record with 50 career wins in the early 1980s.
Valley City State posts a 7-3 overall record heading into conference play next weekend.
Doane 5, VCSU 4
Doane got on the board early with a two-run home run from Kayla Miller in the top of the first inning. The Tigers put up another run in the second inning and rounded out their scoring on a two-run single from Angelina Esqueda in the fourth.
Doane’s Josie Schnakenberg had a no-hitter going through the first four innings Saturday when Sierra Crocker hit a solo home run to open the bottom of the fifth. Riley Perryman followed with a base hit and Andrea Rodriguez smashed a two-run homer to make it 5-3.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Crocker opened the bottom of the seventh with another solo home run to trail 5-4. The Vikings left the tying run on second base as Schnakenberg struck out back-to-back batters to end the game.
Josie Schnakenberg earned the win for Doane, striking out 15 batters and walking one. Schnakenberg allowed four earned runs on six hits. Joelle Lamontagne took the loss for VCSU, allowing three runs on five hits. Amber Stewart pitched four innings in relief, striking out four batters and allowing two runs on six hits. Emily Smith pitched one inning and struck out three straight batters.
Crocker and Perryman each finished with two hits while Rodriguez and Joelle Aiello recorded one hit each. Crocker and Rodriguez each recorded two RBIs.
VCSU 1, Doane 0
Sierra Crocker scored Anne-Elise Gest on a double down the right field line in the first inning to put the Vikings on the board. Winning pitcher Emily Smith took care of the rest, shutting out the Tigers with 14 strikeouts and walking just two batters in the game.
Anne-Elise Gest and Sierra Crocker each had two hits while Makenzee Stone, Autumn Perry, and Jessica Husband each added a hit for the Vikings.
Shelby Downard took the loss for Doane, striking out seven and walking two.
UP NEXT: Valley City State opens conference play next weekend at Dakota State. Doubleheaders are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.