VALLEY CITY, ND  (NewsDakota.com)  The VCSU Viking softball team begins their national tournament run today.

After capturing a repeat NSAA tournament championship, the Vikings travel to Baldwin City, KS in one of 10 four-team pools of NAIA national tournament play, facing College of Idaho today at 2:30 PM.

The Vikings are the fourth seed in their four-team pool, and have a record of 28-21.  They face a 46-8 College of Idaho team that was ranked sixth nationally in the final NAIA poll.  Baker, KS is also in the Vikings’ pool.  Baker is the second-seed in the pool, and ranked seventh nationally.

Valley City State is led by outfielder Riley Perryman, a senior from Cottage Grove, MN.  Perryman hit a team-leading .405, with eight homeruns and 60 RBI, leading the team in driving in runs as well.  Sophomore Alyssa DePoorter (Casper, WY) hit nine homeruns this season.

Maddy Zander (Soph., Bismarck, ND) and Joelle Lamontagne (Oxbow, SK) each had 12 wins to lead the pitching staff.