Crocker sets home run record to defeat Viterbo 15-4

On By Vaseline

Box Score DICKINSON – The Valley City State softball team has moved into the winner’s bracket of the NSAA Postseason as the No. 2 Vikings defeated No. 7 Viterbo 15-4 in Friday’s opening round game.
 
Sierra Crocker ended the game with a 2-out grand slam to mark her 34th career home run and set a new VCSU record. Crocker surpasses Riley Perryman who totaled 33 career home runs from 2019-2023.
 
VCSU improves to 26-20 on the season and advances to the winner’s bracket to play Saturday at 2 p.m. The Vikings will face the winner of Friday night’s contest between No. 6 Dakota State and No. 3 Dickinson State. Viterbo drops to 9-39 and will play a loser’s out game against No. 5 Dakota State on Saturday at 10 a.m.
 
Amanda Bogdonovich hit a 3-run home run to put the V-Hawks on the board in the first inning. From there, VCSU answered with three runs of its own including an RBI double from Maddy Zander. The game was then interrupted for a two-hour rain delay with the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the second inning.
 
After resuming play, the Vikings held onto their momentum and scored three runs in the third inning and four runs in the fourth inning – including a 2-run homer from Alyssa DePoorter – to build a 10-3 lead. The Vikings then sealed the win in the sixth inning after a leadoff triple from Maddy Zander. Makenzee Stone drove her in with a single, followed by base-hits from Avery Kuklinski and Ashlyn Diemert to load the bases. With two outs, Crocker hit her record-setting grand slam to put the Vikings ahead 15-4 and seal the win by mercy rule.
 
The Vikings exploded for 19 hits in the game including three hits apiece from Crocker, DePoorter, Zander and Stone. Crocker and DePoorter each had a home run, four RBI and scored two runs for the Vikings. Zander finished with a double and a triple, and Diemert added a double Friday.  Saige Forseth scored a team-best three runs for VCSU.
 
Zander earned the win in the circle after pitching 5 complete innings. She allowed three runs on four hits, walked four and struck out seven. Logan Gronberg pitched two innings in relief and allowed one run on three hits.
 
Viterbo’s Amanda Bogdonovich went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, a double, and three RBIs Friday. Alina Garstka added two hits and scored a run for Viterbo.
 
Emily Roberts got the loss for Viterbo after pitching 1 and 2/3 innings. She allowed three runs on three hits, walked one and struck out one. Alexis Watson, Amanda Bogdonovich and Delaney Ryan each made a pitching appearance of at least one inning for the V-Hawks.