BELLEVUE, NE- The Dickinson State University softball team opened up the 2021 NSAA Conference Softball Tournament on Thursday morning with a 4-1 victory over the Viterbo University V-Hawks.

Dickinson State University 4, Viterbo University 1

The Blue Hawks set the tone early in game one of the NSAA Conference Tournament against the Viterbo University V-Hawks when Emilie Sickler (JR/Dickinson, ND) tripled to right field on a 1-1 count, Jaya Allen (JR/Spokane, WA) followed with a walk, and Hailey Enriquez (SO/Sparks, NV) singled on a fielder's choice to shortstop. With bases loaded, Kennedy Kuntz (FR/Dickinson, ND) doubled to center scoring Sickler and Allen. The Blue Hawks continued their hitting success in the 2^nd inning when Sickler hit an RBI single, making the score 3-0. Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the 6^th when Kuntz scored on an RBI single by Rhea Paiva (SO/Las Vegas, NV). The V-Hawks punched back with a run late in the game but the Blue Hawks held their ground and defeated the V-Hawks, 4-1.

Offensively, the Blue Hawks outhit the V-Hawks 7-4. Kuntz and Paiva both collected two hits each. Kuntz went 2-3 with a double, single and two RBIs. Paiva went 2-3 with two singles and one RBI. Olivia Hanke (JR/San Deigo, CA), Dallis Mitchell (FR/Phoenix, AZ) and Sickler each collected a hit to add to the Blue Hawks' success at the plate.

Allen earned the win for the Blue Hawks. She allowed one run on five hits over seven innings while striking out six.

Up Next:

The Blue Hawks move into the winners bracket and will face off with the winner of the Bellevue vs Waldorf game at 4:30 PM (MT) on Thursday.