From VCSU Athletics

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – The Valley City State softball team set 13 school records and achieved 11 Top 10 national rankings in the 2022 season. The Vikings capped the season with a trip to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round in Mobile, Ala.

Valley City State’s softball team was ranked in the NAIA Top 10 in many major statistical categories this spring. The Vikings ranked third in slugging percentage (.568), fourth in on-base percentage (.436), fifth in home runs (60), sixth in RBIs (352), seventh in runs scored (393), seventh in extra-base hits (168), eighth in doubles (104) and eighth in batting average (.355).

As a team, the 2022 Vikings set new school records for RBIs, home runs and walks. VCSU totaled 352 RBIs, breaking the record of 344 set by the 2019 Vikings who made a run to the NAIA World Series. The Vikings also tallied 60 home runs, which ranked fifth in the nation, besting the previous record of 44 homers set in 2016 and 2021. VCSU totaled 164 walks in 2022 to surpass the 2008 record of 136 walks.

The Vikings also set numerous individual records this spring. Joelle Aiello smashed 18 home runs which ranked fourth in the nation and tallied a school-record .849 slugging percentage to rank eighth in the NAIA.

This season, Aiello also set career records for runs scored (61), doubles (56), walks (68) and games played (219).

Marissa Hawkins‘ .546 on-base percentage set a new school record and ranked ninth in the NAIA this season. She also broke records with 161 career RBIs and 32 walks on the season. Riley Perryman rounded out the historic season with a school-record 26 homers in her Viking career.

Eight Vikings were named All-Conference, four players earned NSAA Gold Glove awards and Aiello was named NSAA Player of the Year in 2022.

SCHOOL RECORDS – TEAM
RBI – 352
HR – 60
BB – 136

SCHOOL RECORDS – IND.
Career RBI – Hawkins (151)
Career HR – Perryman (26)
Career 2B – Aiello (56)
Career BB – Aiello (68)
Career Games Played – Aiello (219)
Season RBI – Aiello (61)
Season OBP – Hawkins (.546)
Season SLG – Aiello (.849)
Season HR – Aiello (18)
Season BB – Hawkins (32)

NAIA RANKINGS – TEAM
3^rd – SLG (.568)
4^th – OBP (.436)
5^th – HR (60)
6^th – RBI (352)
7^th – Runs (393)
7^th – extra-base hits (168)
8^th – 2B (104)
8^th – Batting avg. (.355)

NAIA RANKINGS – IND.
4^th – HR, Aiello (18)
8^th – SLG, Aiello (.849)
9^th – OBP, Hawkins (.546)