BELLEVUE, NEB. – Senior pitcher Emily Smith picked up her 20th win and eighth shutout of the season with a 5-0 victory over Dakota State Thursday evening.

Valley City State picked up its 17th straight victory and moves to 34-5 on the season. Smith worked all seven innings and allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out six in Thursday's game.

The Vikings posted five runs in the first two innings to hold a comfortable lead throughout the game. Joelle Aiello led off with a single and Anne-Elise Gest walked. Marissa Hawkins advanced the runners with a groundout and Makenzee Stone bunted to score Aiello. Autumn Perry's two-run double scored Gest and Stone to lead 3-0 after the first inning. The Vikings added a pair of runs in the second inning with Joelle Aiello's two-run triple, scoring Andrea Rodriguez and Jessica Husband.

Joelle Aiello went 3-for-3 at the plate, scored one run and drove in two. Autumn Perry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Andrea Rodriguez, Anne-Elise Gest, Makenzee Stone and Jessica Husband each scored a run for VCSU.

Xitlali Lopez got the loss in the circle for the Trojans, allowing two earned runs on six hits while walking four and striking out five. Xotchil Lopez, Sarah Torres and Julia Andersen each recorded a hit for Dakota State.

UP NEXT: No. 1 Valley City State advances in the winner's bracket to face No. 3 Dickinson State on Friday at 3 p.m.