DICKINSON, N.D. -- Valley City State University scored in each of the first four innings, including a three-run second as the Vikings earned their second-straight North Star Athletic Association Softball Tournament championship with a 7-3 victory over Bellevue University Monday afternoon at Bravero Field.
The Bruins, who fell to 41-12 on the season, will await their post-season fate when the NAIA National Championship qualifiers are announced this Thursday, May 11. Bellevue is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
VCSU earned the league's automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.
The NAIA National Championship Opening Round will be played on May 15-17 with the winners of the 10 opening round sites advancing to the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga. on May 25-31.
After Sami Reding opened the game with a walk, she stole both second and third before being driven home by a sacrifice fly to right field by Ashley Young, giving the Bruins an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
The Vikings responded in the bottom of the first on a two-run double to right field by Sierra Crocker, giving VCSU a 2-1 advantage. BU starter Lauren Jurek, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the inning, striking out Makenzee Stone to end the threat.
VCSU used a three-run homer by Riley Perryman to make it 5-1 in the bottom of the second frame.
An RBI single to center field by Reese Floro sliced the Viking lead to 5-2 in the top of the third.
The Vikings increased the margin to 6-2 in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to right field by Andrea Rodriguez that scored Alyssa DePoorter from third.
Perryman drove in her fourth run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning with an RBI double to left field, extending the Viking advantage to 7-2.
After Joelle Lamontagne struck out the first two Bruins in the top of the seventh, BU strung together three-straight hits including an RBI double to center field by Reding to move the Bruins to within four runs at 7-3. Lamontagne induced a flyout to end the contest, giving the Vikings the NSAA Tournament title.
Perryman led the Vikings at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and four RBIs.
Reding finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to pace the BU offense.
Jurek (14-3) suffered the loss, scattering four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in five innings of work. She did not give up an earned run in the loss.
Lamontagne (12-8) earned the complete-game victory, giving up three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
