DICKINSON, N.D. –  The Valley City State softball team won its second straight NSAA Tournament Championship after handing top-seeded Bellevue a 7-3 loss Monday in Dickinson.
 
VCSU is now 28-21 overall and has earned the conference's automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round which will be held May 15-17. VCSU will learn their seed and opening round destination during the NAIA Softball Selection Show on Tuesday, May 9, at 4 p.m. 
 
This is VCSU's third national tournament appearance in the last five years. The Vikings also made the national tournament in 2019 and 2022. In 2019 the Vikings won the NAIA Opening Round and advanced to the NAIA World Series. In 2022, the Vikings lost their first two games at the NAIA Opening Round.

Bellevue falls to 41-12 overall and awaits to see from the national office if they will receive an at-large invitation to the NAIA National Tournament. 
 
The Vikings, who were undefeated in the tournament before entering the championship game, scored at least a run in the first four innings, and took its lead for good in the bottom of the first inning on a two-out, 2-run double by Sierra Crocker. Riley Perryman blasted a 3-run home run in the bottom second to pull away with a 5-1 advantage.

Perryman later hit an RBI double in in the bottom fourth, setting a new VCSU record with her 20th double of the season, to widen VCSU's lead to 7-2.

Bellevue's comeback attempt in the top seventh inning saw one run scored, where Katie Cunningham and Mya Montero hit back-to-back singles with two outs. Sami Reding followed up with an RBI double to trim VCSU's lead to 7-3.

VCSU's defense ended Bellevue's scoring opportunity, securing their second consecutive trip to the national tournament.

Joelle Lamontagne pitched a complete game to get the win for Valley City State, giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two.

Perryman drove in a game-best four runs for the Vikings with a home run and a double. Crocker added a double and two RBI. Ashlynne Copinga, Marissa Hawkins, DePoorter, and Makenee Stone each provided a hit.

Reding finished the game with a double, single, and an RBI for Bellevue. Floro added a hit and an RBI, while Lauren Jurek, Cunningham, and Montero each had a hit.

Jurek took the loss for the Bruins, working five complete innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits. Cunningham pitched one inning in relief.
 
UP NEXT: The Vikings will advance to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round. VCSU will learn their seed and opening round destination during the NAIA Softball Selection Show on Tuesday, May 9, at 4 p.m.