BISMARCK, N.D. (vcsuvikings.com) – Valley City State softball senior Emily Smith has been named the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. It is the fourth time she has earned the award this season.

Alissa Foster of Mayville State (N.D.) was chosen as the Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7″ – Senior – pitcher – Portage La Prairie, Manitoba – Smith pitched back-to-back no hitters in two appearances over the weekend as Valley City State (N.D.) went 4-0 over Viterbo (Wis.) on the week.  She finished each game in just five innings.  She walked just three batters and struck out 14 batters on the week.  Smith broke the school record for career strikeouts with 515 total strikeouts.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week
Alissa Foster – Mayville State (N.D.) – 5’7″ – Senior – outfielder – Salinas, Calif. – Foster tallied multiple hits in the weekend sweep of Waldorf (Iowa) for Mayville State (N.D.).  She was 10-of-15 at the plate (.667), recording at least two hits in all four games (4-of-4 in the four-game series finale).  She also scored eight times.  Foster registered a slugging percentage of 1.467 with three home runs, three doubles and four singles.  She drove in seven runs.

Recap from last week’s games
Valley City State (N.D.), receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, maintain their lead in the North Star Athletic Association standings after a 4-game series sweep at Viterbo (Wis.).  The Vikings shut down the V-Hawks 8-0 and 12-0, both games in five innings on April 17, followed by a pair of shutout victories on April 18 by the scores of 10-0 in five innings and 6-0.  VCSU lifted their overall record to 21-5 and 14-2 record in the league.

Waldorf (Iowa) swept Viterbo in a mid-week NSAA doubleheader on April 14 in Forest City, Iowa.  The Warriors won by the scores of 6-4 and 13-4 in five innings.  VU fell to 5-27 overall record and 5-13 record in NSAA conference.

Mayville State (N.D.) extended their winning streak to eight games after another North Star’s 4-game series sweep at Waldorf.  The Comets won by the sores of 10-4 and 12-6 on April 16, followed by 14-0 in five innings and 11-3 in six innings on April 17.  MSU raised their overall record to 15-13 and 11-5 record in the league.  Waldorf is 7-21 overall record and 5-13 record in the North Star.

Bellevue (Neb.) returned home to host Dickinson State (N.D.) in the NSAA’s four-game series in Omaha, Neb. last weekend.  The Bruins swept the Blue Hawks 3-0 and 10-2 on April 17.  DiSU won the first game of the doubleheader on April 18 by the score of 5-3 before BU wrapped up the series with a 9-2 victory.  Bellevue is 26-17 overall record and 12-6 NSAA conference record.  Dickinson State is 22-12 overall record and 11-7 record in NSAA contests.

Dakota State (S.D.) and Presentation (S.D.) earned the NSAA’s four-game series split in Madison, S.D.  The Saints won by the scores of 4-2 and 16-7 in five innings on April 16.  The Trojans answered with a doubleheader sweep on April 17 by the scores of 4-3 and 9-1 in six innings.  Dakota State is 12-24 overall record, while Presentation is 7-23 overall record.  Both teams are 6-12 record in North Star conference.

Looking Ahead
Presentation (S.D.) is scheduled to host Dickinson State (N.D.) in a mid-week North Star doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.  There are a pair of NSAA mid-week doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon with Valley City State (N.D.) hosting Mayville State (N.D.) and Waldorf (Iowa) traveling to Viterbo (Wis.).

Dakota State (S.D.) hosts Bellevue (Neb.) on Thursday in NSAA mid-week doubleheader action.

The NSAA four-game series continue Saturday and Sunday.  The schedule includes Dakota State at Dickinson State; Bellevue at Presentation; Waldorf at Valley City State and Viterbo at Mayville State.

Tuesday’s Games
Dickinson State (N.D.@ Presentation (S.D.) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader

Wednesday’s Games
Mayville State (N.D.) @ (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader
Waldorf (Iowa) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 2 p.m. – Doubleheader

Thursday’s Games
Bellevue (Neb.) @ Dakota State (S.D.) – 3 p.m. – Doubleheader

Saturday’s Games
Waldorf (Iowa) @ (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader
Viterbo (Wis.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 2 p.m. – Doubleheader
Bellevue (Neb.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – 2 p.m. – Doubleheader
Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT) – Doubleheader

Sunday’s Games
Waldorf (Iowa) @ (RV) Valley City State (N.D.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader
Bellevue (Neb.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader
Viterbo (Wis.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader
Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT) – Doubleheader

2021 NSAA Softball Conference Standings