MINOT, N.D. – Joelle Lamontagne pitched a five-hit shutout, and the Viking offense hit three home runs Sunday as the VCSU softball team ended its weekend with a dominating victory.

The Vikings scored six runs in the third inning and eight more runs in the fourth inning en route to a 16-0 victory over Dakota Wesleyan University.

Valley City State finishes the season-opening weekend with a 2-2 record at the Minot State Dome Tournament, defeating Dakota Wesleyan and University of Mary. VCSU's losses came against Minot State and Minnesota-Crookston.

On Sunday, Lamontagne and the Viking defense put together VCSU's first shutout of the season. The right-hander scattered five hits and did not allow a run. She struck out three, did not walk a batter and was helped by solid defense that committed just one error.

Offensively, the Vikings broke the game wide open in the third and fourth innings. Leading 1-0 in the top of the third, Riley Perryman and Marissa Hawkins hit back-to-back home runs for a 4-0 lead. Andrea Rodriguez followed with a three-run double later in the inning, putting the Vikings ahead 7-0.

Valley City State tacked on eight more runs in the fourth inning and a solo home run by Alyssa DePoorter for the final margin of 16-0.

Five Vikings had at least two hits, including a 3-for-4 day by Sierra Crocker. Perryman doubled and homered as she was 2-for-4 with two runs and five RBIs. Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Hawkins scored three runs while going 2-for-3 with an RBI. DePoorter hit her first career home run and went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Up next: Valley City State is back indoors with four games at the Presentation College Dome Tournament, Feb. 11-12, in Aberdeen, S.D.