Valley City (VCSU) . – Tatum Lundin‘s RBI double in the top of the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie and ignited a three-run rally as the top-ranked Valley City State softball team opened the NSAA Softball Championship with a 3-0 win Thursday against Presentation College.
Lundin’s double to the fence in left-center scored pinch runner Madison Gronau for a 1-0 lead, and then Jayme Menard followed with a two-run single through the right side, scoring Autumn Perry and Lundin to put the Vikings ahead 3-0.
That’s all the run support VCSU starting pitcher Emily Smith would need. Smith, who was named the NSAA Pitcher of the Year on Wednesday night, cruised to a complete-game shutout in the opening round game.
Valley City State (47-3) moves on to play at 2 p.m. Thursday in the winner’s game of the gold bracket. No. 8 seed Presentation College (4-41) drops into a loser-out game, also at 2 p.m. Thursday.
Smith allowed just four hits to the Saints, did not walk a batter and struck out six en route to the shutout.
Bibiana Villeda took the loss for the Saints, giving up 10 hits and three runs. She did not walk anyone and struck out two.
VCSU senior Tatum Lundin had a big game for the Vikings, going 3-for-3 with a run and RBI. Autumn Perry collected two hits, and Jayme Menard went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Sierra Kilmer had two of the Saints’ four hits. Cherie Malacas and Jadwyn Parrish each collected one hit.
GAME TWO…
Valley City (VCSU) – Valley City State University scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back Thursday afternoon as the Vikings downed Dickinson State 7-1 in winner’s bracket play at the NSAA Softball Championship.
Marissa Hawkins‘ two-run single gave the Vikings a 3-0 lead after the first inning, and Viking pitching and defense took care of the rest. Emily Smith and Emilee Wilson combined to allow just five hits and one run to the Blue Hawks. The top-seeded Vikings tacked on two more runs each in the fourth and fifth innings.
Valley City State (48-3) advances to the Gold Bracket Championship and will play Friday at 4 p.m. Dickinson State (26-23), the No. 4 seed, drops into loser-out play in the Gold Bracket and will play at 12 p.m. Friday.
Valley City State took the lead quickly. After Emily Smith struck out the side in the top of the first inning, the Viking offense put up three runs in the bottom of the inning. Two straight walks and a bunt base hit loaded the bases with no outs. Riley Perryman then dropped one in behind second base, scoring the game’s first run. Marissa Hawkins followed with a two-run single to right field, scoring Perryman and Voni Culp for a 3-0 lead.
Dickinson State cut the Viking lead to 3-1 after four innings. Jaya Allen doubled with one out and then came in to score after Whitney Mesi singled to center field and the throw in skipped away towards the dugout.
The Vikings tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning, including a sacrifice fly by Jayme Menard, and then Tatum Lundin finished the scoring with a two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Smith went the first five innings in the circle to pick up the win. The junior right-hander struck out seven and gave up just four hits and an unearned run en route to her second win of the day. Emilee Wilson pitched the final two innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four.
Lundin and Hawkins each had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Viking offense. Both of Lundin’s hits were triples. Voni Culp, Autumn Perry and Emily Smith each added a hit.
Kayla Stephens and Whitney Mesi each had two hits for the Blue Hawks, while Jaya Allen went 1-for-3 with a run.
Abi Brooks took the loss for Dickinson State, giving up seven hits and five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. She walked three and struck out one. Allen pitched two innings of relief, did not allow a hit and walked one.
