MADISON, S.D. – The Valley City State softball team took a sweep of Dakota State in the final games of the conference season Sunday, defeating the Trojans by final scores of 12-9 and 5-3.
 
The Vikings win the 3-1 series over Dakota State after splitting the doubleheader on Saturday. VCSU rounds out the regular season with a 24-21 record overall and an 18-7 record in conference play. The Vikings have secured a No. 2 seed for the NSAA Tournament that will be played May 5-8 in Dickinson.
 
Dakota State drops to 13-32 overall and 12-15 in North Star play. The Trojans will be a No. 4 seed for the NSAA postseason.
 
VCSU 12, Dakota State 9
The Vikings defeated Dakota State 12-9 in the first game of the day after erasing an 8-3 deficit to come from behind in the win.
 
The Vikings scored three runs on a Dakota State error followed by an RBI single by Sierra Crocker to close the gap to trail 8-7 after four innings. Riley Perryman and Crocker each drove in a pair of runs in the fifth inning to take over the lead, 11-8.
 
Andrea Rodriguez drove in Maddy Zander for an added insurance run in the sixth to round out scoring for VCSU.
 
Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with two doubles for the Vikings, and Riley Perryman doubled three times in the win. Makenzee Stone added a triple, and Zander hit a 2-run home run. Crocker added two hits and drove in a team-best three runs.
 
Brooke Gaudry picked up the win after working 5 complete innings in relief. She allowed one run on four hits while walking three and striking out five. Joelle Lamontagne got the start and allowed eight runs, four earned, on six hits. She walked one and struck out two.
 
Rosie Philop got the loss for Dakota State, pitching one inning in relief and allowing five runs on three hits. Sophia Cordova started in the circle and went 3 and 2/3 innings while Grace Ortmeier made a relief appearance and pitched 2 and 1/3 innings.
 
VCSU 5, Dakota State 3
VCSU completed the sweep with a 5-3 victory in game two as Maddy Zander tossed a complete game and allowed just five hits in seven innings. She allowed just two earned runs, walked three and struck out three.
 
Saige Forseth led the offense as the only Viking with multiple hits in the game. She was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Makenzee Stone added a double and scored two runs while Ashlynne Copinga scored one and drove in one.
 
Dakota State's Michelle Evdos was the only Trojan with multiple hits in the game, including a triple. She scored one run and drove in two for Dakota State.
 
Cordova got the loss in the circle after pitching 3 and 1/3 innings in relief. She allowed two runs on three hits and walked two. Maycee Bricker started for the Trojans and worked 3 and 2/3 innings. Bricker allowed three runs on four hits and walked three. Dakota State's pitchers did not strike out a single Viking batter in the game.