May 3, 2024

DICKINSON, N.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) outscored Viterbo (Wis.) 12-1 after an hour-and-half rain delay Friday afternoon, cruising to an 15-3 North Star Athletic Association softball postseason tournament opening round victory at Sanford Sports Complex.  Sierra Crocker closed the game with a grand slam for the Vikings to move on in the winner’s bracket.

Valley City State plays the winner of No. 6 seed Waldorf (Iowa)-No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) Saturday at 3 p.m. (Central Time)/2 p.m. (Mountain Time) in the winner’s bracket.  Viterbo awaits the loser of Saturday’s contest between No. 4 seed Mayville State (N.D.) and No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) at 5 p.m. (CT)/4 p.m. (MT).

Viterbo started fast as Amanda Bogodonovich blasted a 3-run home run for a 3-0 lead in the opening inning.  Valley City State was able to match that fast start after scoring three runs in the bottom half of the first inning, sparked by a lead-off double by Ashlyn Diemert. 

After a wild pitch by the V-Hawks to allow Diemert to score, Logan Gronberg followed up with an RBI single while Mandy Zander capped an RBI double to tie the game at 3-3 after the first inning.

The game returned to action in the bottom second inning after more than an hour and half due to rain.

The Vikings earned their first lead after plating three runs in the bottom third, fueled by three straight singles from Zander, Alyssa DePoorter, and Makenzee Stone.  DePoorter collected 2-RBI single while Stone added an RBI single to put VCSU up 6-3.

Valley City State continued its scoring surge with four runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning, thanks to 2-run home run from DePooter to balloon their lead to 10-3.

Meagan Jardine hit an RBI single to snap their scoring drought in the top sixth, trailing 10-4.

VCSU scored five runs in the bottom sixth to close the game by an eight-run mercy rule.

The Vikings outhit the V-Hawks 19-7 in the game, highlighted by Crocker, Zander, DePoorter, and Stone with three hits each.  Crocker and DePoorter each drove in four runs.  Zander and Stone each added two RBIs. 

Zander (W, 14-7) earned the victory after working for five innings in the pitching circle for VCSU.  Logan Gronberg worked the sixth inning in relief.

Bogdonovich had two hits and three RBIs for the V-Hawks.  Alina Garstka added two hits.  Viterbo used four different pitchers in the game, with Emily Roberts (L, 1-10) recording the defeat.