Blue Hawks drop slugfest to VCSU in winner's bracket semis

DICKINSON, N.D. – No. 3 seed and host-team Dickinson State (N.D.) and No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) saw a high scoring affair yet in the North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Tournament, holding on a 12-10 offensive slugfest at Bravera Field. 

A total of 22 runs, 29 hits, and five defensive errors combined by both teams were recorded in the game.  VCSU (26-21 overall record), who moves on to the winner's bracket game Sunday at 11 a.m. (MT) against top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.), snapped DiSU's red-hot 11-game winning streak.

Sierra Crocker and Alyssa DePoorter provided with back-to-back RBI singles to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead in the bottom first.  The Blue Hawks answered with two runs in the top second, sparked by Madeline Peralta's RBI double and Ashlee Potter's RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

VCSU plated three runs in the bottom half of the second inning with Ashlyn Diemert's 2-RBI single and Marissa Hawkins' RBI single.

Dickinson State (23-24 overall record) added two runs in the top third with back-to-back RBI hits by Dallis Mitchell (double) and Cassidy Venner's RBI single, trailing 5-4.
The Blue Hawks continued their scoring surge in the top fourth inning, capped by Mitchell's 2-RBI single to overtake a 7-5 lead.

Valley City State erupted for six runs in the bottom fourth, thanks to three doubles (Hawkins, Crocker, and Diemert).  Dieemert capped the scoring surge with a 2-RBI double as the Vikings regained their lead at 11-7 after four innings.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Madeline Peralta produced an RBI single as the Blue Hawks trimmed the Vikings' lead to 11-8.  The Vikings answered with a run in the bottom sixth to make it 12-8.

Dickinson State mounted a comeback in the top seventh inning, highlighted by Mitchell's 2-RBI double to cut VCSU's lead to 12-10.

Venner and Peralta recorded back-to-back walks to set up a bases loaded situation with two outs in the top seventh for the Blue Hawks.  The Vikings' defense halted the Blue Hawks to score as the game ended, securing the victory.

Diemert powered the Vikings' offense attack with a double, two singles and tallied four RBIs.  Hawkins and Crocker each had two hits and two RBIs.  Ashlynne Copinga, Riley Perryman, and Makenzee Stone each recorded two hits. 

Joelle Lamontagne started the game in the circle for VCSU, working for 2 1/3 innings.  Mandy Zander pitched one inning in relief, while Hawkins (W, 2-2) picked the victory after pitching 3 2/3 innings in relief.

Mitchell led the Blue Hawks with two doubles, a triple and drove in a game-high five runs.  Peralta added a double, single, three walks, and two RBIs.  Rhea Paiva had two hits and two runs scored.

Mitchell started the game, tossing 1 1/3 innings.  Ari Martinez (L, 5-8) recorded the defeat after pitching 2 1/3 innings.  Alexa Kappel worked the final 2 1/3 innings.