VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)-Valley City State junior Emily Smith and freshman Marissa Hawkins have been named the North Star Athletic Association Softball Players of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Smith and Hawkins helped the Vikings to four wins this past weekend at the Minot State Dome Tournament, improving their overall record to 12-0 this season.
North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week
Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’5″ – Junior – Pitcher – Portage La Prairie, Manitoba – Smith picked up three wins in the pitching circle as No. 25-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) went 4-0 against NCAA Division II teams at the Minot State (N.D.) Dome Tournament, extending their winning streak to 12 games.  For the week, she tossed 15 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on 11 hits.  Smith struck out 25 batters, including 10 strikeouts against Mary (N.D.).  She improved to 9-0 overall record this season with a 0.74 earned run average (ERA).  She has struck out 71 batters in 47 innings and leads the nation in wins (9) and strikeouts (71).
North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week
Marissa Hawkins – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’6″ – Freshman – Third Baseman – St. Paul, Minn. – Hawkins batted .462 with six runs scored and drove in five runs as No. 25 Valley City State (N.D.) went 4-0 record NCAA Division II teams at the Minot State (N.D.) Dome Tournament.  She also went 4-for-4 on stolen bases and recorded an on-base percentage of .533.  For the week, Hawkins was 6-of-13 at the plate with a double and two walks. So far this season Hawkins is batting .459 with a .676 slugging percentage and 16 RBIs. She ranks fifth in the nation in total RBIs.
Recap from last week’s games
Valley City State (N.D.), ranked No. 25 in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll, remained undefeated with a 12-0 overall record after going 4-0 record against NCAA Division II Teams at Minot State (N.D.) Dome Tournament.  The Vikings defeated Mary (Neb.) 7-0 and Minnesota State-Moorhead 12-5 on Feb. 23, followed by another 2-0 record on Feb. 24 with wins over Minnesota-Crookston (8-0) and host team Minot State (10-6).  VCSU began their season with a 4-0 record in the PC Dome Tournament on Feb. 9-10 (wins over Dakota Wesleyan, S.D.; host-team Presentation, S.D., No. 24 Jamestown, N.D. and Dakota State, S.D.).  The Vikings also posted a 4-0 record in the PC Dome on Feb. 15-16 with victories over DWU, Dordt (Iowa), Mount Marty (S.D.) and Northern State (S.D.).