VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Top-seeded Valley City State (N.D.) continued their historic season Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 7-0 shutout victory over No. 2 seed Bellevue (Neb.) to complete the North Star Athletic Association Softball Tournament Championship Best-of-3 series sweep at VCSU Softball Complex.

The Vikings, which raised their overall record to 51-3, extended their winning streak to 18 games.  VCSU earned the NSAA's automatic bid to the NAIA Softball National Tournament Opening Round on May 13-15. It will be VCSU's first appearance in the national tournament since 2006. 

"I couldn't be more happy for our team," said VCSU head coach Michael Mook. "They've worked so hard all season and its fun to see all their hard work pay off. We can't wait to see where we're going for nationals and start preparing."

Bellevue fell to 44-18 overall record.  The Bruins, who are in the receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, awaits to hear from the NAIA national office for a potential at-large bid.  The NAIA Softball National Tournament Selection Show is slated for Tuesday at 3 p.m. on NAIA Facebook page.

VCSU's pitchers continued their dominance, giving up just 0.6 runs per game and 0.41 ERA in the tournament. It was the third time in the tournament that the Vikings recorded a shut-out victory as VCSU outscored its opponents 28-3 over five games. 

The Vikings gained the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second inning.  Marissa Hawkins led off with a single and scored home after Autumn Perry's RBI double to deep left field for 1-0 VCSU lead. With bases loaded, Joelle Aiello produced an RBI single to extend their lead to 2-0.

Valley City State erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Tatum Lundin sparked the offense with a lead-off home run, her fifth home run this season, for VCSU's 3-0 lead.

The Vikings next six batters reached safely on base, producing four more runs to balloon their lead to 7-0.  Voni Culp's RBI triple and Hawkins' 2-RBI double highlighted VCSU's scoring surge. The two RBIs by Hawking gave her 58 on the season, tying the school record set by Cejay Hilhorst in 2016. 

Bellevue opened up the top of the sixth inning with three straight singles by Erin Sharpe, Ashley Young and Kaitlyn Kinman, but were unable to score as VCSU starting pitcher Emilee Wilson worked out of the jam. VCSU junior Amber Stewart then pitched a scoreless seventh inning as the Vikings secured their trip to the NAIA Softball National Tournament on their home field in front of a large Viking crowd.

"I think we have the best fans out of any place I've ever been," said Mook. "They're supper supportive and they're there no matter what. They are part of this too."

VCSU outhit BU 11-6 in the game.  Aiello, Culp, Hawkins and Autumn Perry each collected two hits for the Vikings.  Hawkins drove in two runs. 

Young led the Bruins with two hits.  Ashlyn Teran, Sharpe, Kinman and Ellie Bliemeister each had a single.

Emilee Wilson (W, 18-1) earned the win in the pitching circle for Valley City State.  She tossed six innings and scattered six hits in the game.  She struck out seven batters.  Amber Stewart worked a scoreless seventh inning in relief.

Bellevue used three different pitchers in the game, where Brieanna Brock (L, 13-3) recorded the setback.  She started the game before pulling out in the bottom second inning and returned back in the fourth inning.  She finished the game by giving up two runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.  Monique Ashley and Sharpe also pitched in the game.

Game 1: VCSU 3, Bellevue University 2
The North Star Athletic Association Softball's Pitcher of the Year Emily Smith fueled No. 7-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) with a 3-2 victory over Bellevue (Neb.) Saturday in the first game of the championship best-of-three series format at VCSU Softball Complex.

Smith, which ranks second in the NAIA in total pitching victories, raised her record to 31-1 on the season after tossing a complete game despite giving up two solo home runs and five walks.  She struck out 12 Bellevue batters and only scattered three hits in the game.  She also went perfect at the plate by going 3-of-3 and drove in a run.

The Vikings extended their winning streak to 17 games after the victory. The Bruins saw their 14-game winning streak come to an end.

Valley City State quickly erupted for two runs in the opening inning, thanks to a pair of triples by Joelle Aiello and Smith.  Smith drove in Aiello for a 1-0 VCSU lead.  Marissa Hawkins added an RBI sacrifice fly, scoring Nichole Reed (pinch runner for Smith) to widen the Vikings' lead to 2-0.

Ellie Bliemeister blasted a solo home run in the top of the second frame as BU cut VCSU's lead to 2-1.  It was her 11th home run of the season.

The Vikings answered back with a run scored in the bottom half of the second inning.  Jayme Menard drilled an RBI double to score Tatum Lundin who hit a single with one out, extending VCSU's lead 3-1.

Bellevue snapped their scoring drought in the top of the seventh as pinch hitter Emily Rochford smashed a solo home run to left field, but Smith retired the next two batters as the Vikings secured a 1-0 series lead.

The Vikings had six hits in the game and held the Bruins to three hits.  The Bruins left seven runners on base compared to the Vikings six runners on base.

Monique Ashley (L, 19-8) recorded the defeat in the pitching circle for Bellevue.  She pitched a complete game, allowing three runs on six hits.

Nick Huntimer, North Star Athletic Association