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Saturday
VCSU Sports Recap
ABERDEEN, S.D. (VCSU) – Valley City State pitchers gave up just three hits and only one run Saturday as the Viking softball team swept a pair of games at the Presentation College Dome Classic.
Joelle Lamontagne and Emily Smith combined on a one-hit shutout, and Joelle Aiello hit her first career home run in game one – a 2-0 win against Briar Cliff University. Amber Stewart and Smith combined on a two-hitter in game two, leading the Vikings to a 5-1 victory over Dakota Wesleyan.
Valley City State is now 3-1 overall, capping the season-opening weekend in Aberdeen with Saturday’s sweep. The Vikings will return to Aberdeen on Feb. 19-20 for four more games at the Presentation College Dome.
VCSU 2, Briar Cliff University 0
Joelle Lamontagne and Emily Smith combined for a one-hit shutout and Joelle Aiello hit her first career home run Saturday as the Vikings picked up a 2-0 win over Briar Cliff.
Aiello went deep to centerfield in the third inning for her first career home run, giving the Vikings a 1-0 lead. The Vikings added their second run in the fourth inning after Anne-Elise Gest singled, stole second and then scored on Jessica Husband‘s RBI single.
That’s all the run support the Viking defense and pitchers would need in a dominating performance. Starting pitcher Joelle Lamontagne went 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Emily Smith pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for the win. Smith did not allow a hit, walked only one and struck out nine. VCSU did not commit an error.
The Vikings finished with six hits, including two each by Gest and Husband. Marissa Hawkins and Aiello collected the other two hits.
VCSU 5, Dakota Wesleyan 1
Amber Stewart pitched six strong innings in game two, leading the Vikings to a 5-1 victory.
Dakota Wesleyan struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning, but it was all VCSU from there. The Vikings took the lead with two runs in the fourth inning and then scored three in the fifth en route to the win.
Joelle Aiello and Sierra Crocker opened the fourth inning with back-to-back doubles, tying the game at 1-1. Singles by Anne-Elise Gest and Marissa Hawkins brought Crocker home, giving the Vikings a 2-1 lead.
In the fifth, Makenzee Stone started the inning with a single and Aiello brought her in with a one-out RBI triple. Riley Perryman singled home Aiello for a 4-1 lead, and the Vikings tacked on their fifth run after a Dakota Wesleyan error.
Stewart started in the circle for VCSU and was dominant for her first win of the season. The senior allowed just two hits and one run over six innings of work. Stewart struck out six and did not walk a batter. Emily Smith pitched the final inning, striking out two of the three batters she faced.
Valley City State racked up a season-high 11 hits. Makenzee Stone, a true freshman, went 3-for-3 with a run and a double. Aiello was 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, scored twice and drove in one. Anne-Elise Gest went 2-for-3, and Marissa Hawkins collected a hit and two RBIs.
Basketball
Women…
VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – An Emma Nielsen three-pointer had the Vikings within a point of Dakota State with under two minutes to play, but Valley City State couldn’t take down the No. 17 Trojans in a hard-fought game Saturday.
Dakota State finished with four free throws to seal the 87-80 victory over the Vikings and remain undefeated in conference play. The Trojans improve to 21-3 overall. Valley City State drops to 7-12 overall and 5-8 in the NSAA.
Maara Nelson and Adriana Torres posted career-highs Saturday with 24 points each. Senior Macey Kvilvang added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Torres and Allie Critchley each dished out five assists for the Vikings.
Trailing 13-6 early, Valley City State took a 14-6 run capped by a Torres bucket at the buzzer to hold a 20-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. Dakota State led by as much as nine points in the second quarter, but a 10-3 Viking run capped by a layup from Taryn Dieterle closed the gap to just two points. Valley City State shot 63 percent in the first half to trail 44-40 at halftime.
The Vikings continued to inch closer and took over the lead on a layup from Allie Critchley with 2:06 to go in the third quarter. Valley City State opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer from Torres to take a two-possession lead at 70-66. Dakota State then scored 11 straight points to lead 77-70.
The Vikings continued to fight down the stretch as they took a 10-4 run capped by Emma Nielsen‘s three-pointer to get within a point but Dakota State finished with the seven-point victory Saturday.
Valley City State shot 53 percent from the field (32-61), 58 percent on three-pointers (7-12), and 69 percent on free throws (9-13). Dakota State shot 45 percent on field goals (33-74), 32 percent on 3’s (7-22), and 74 percent from the free throw line (14-19).
Saturday’s battle featured nine lead changes and two ties between the NSAA teams. Valley City State held a narrow 30-29 rebounding advantage Saturday. Valley City State also finished with 17 assists and five blocks as a team. Dakota State recorded 18 steals and tallied 34 points off of 23 Viking turnovers.
Dakota State had five players post double figures Saturday, led by Jessi Giles with 17 points. Courtney Menning and Lexi Robson each added 14 points for the Trojans.
UP NEXT: Valley City State travels to Dickinson State on Friday, Feb. 19, to conclude the regular season. The women will tip at 6:30 p.m. and men will follow at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Dakota State concludes the regular season at Bellevue on Thursday, Feb. 18.
Men…
VALLEY CITY – VCSU’s Jalen Addison hit back-to-back 3’s to lead by as much as 14 points late in the second half en route to the men’s basketball 74-63 victory over Dakota State Saturday.
Valley City State improves to 17-6 overall and 8-5 in the NSAA. Dakota State drops to 9-13 overall and 7-6 in the conference. 
Head coach Ryan Montgomery was proud of the way the Viking men bounced back after a tough loss to Bellevue Friday night.
“Our guys responded. Life isn’t about sitting and dwelling when things that happen to you, it’s how you respond.” he said. “We challenged them to see what our response would be. I was proud they continued on and didn’t quit.”
Four Vikings posted double figures Saturday, including Kevin Schramm (13), Jalen Addison (13), Matthew Schlottman (12), and Connor Entzi (11). Addison added nine rebounds while Joshua Kelly dished out a team-high four assists.
Valley City State celebrated Senior Night on Saturday with a short recogntion of Connor Entzi before Saturday’s game.
“I’m very proud of Connor.” said Montgomery. “This was his last regular season home game. He demonstrated that a senior; He didn’t get too high or too low but showed consistency for our guys.”
Valley City State trailed 12-8 early when the Vikings took an 11-point rally, capped by a 3 from Schlottman to take a seven-point lead. Dakota State inched closer but a three-pointer from Schramm gave the Vikings a 33-29 advantage at the half.
Dakota State held a 46-45 lead with 13:53 to go when the Vikings hit back-to-back three pointers from Schlottman and Eddie Oyet to lead the rest of the way.
Valley City State shot 53 percent from the field (29-55), 38 percent on three-pointers (10-26), and 50 percent on free throws (6-12). Dakota State shot 42 percent on field goals (25-59), 19 percent on 3’s (4-21), and 60 percent from the free throw line (9-15).
Valley City State recorded 19 assists and 12 turnovers Saturday while Dakota State posted just four assists and 15 turnovers.
Gare Ewefada led all scorers with 17 points for Dakota State. Ronnie Latting added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Trojans.
UP NEXT: Valley City State travels to Dickinson State on Friday, Feb. 19, to conclude the regular season. The women will tip at 6:30 p.m. and men will follow at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Dakota State travels to Bellevue on Thursday, Feb. 18.
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