FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State softball team opened up its Summit League series with North Dakota on Saturday be sweeping a doubleheader against the Fighting Hawks at Tharaldson Park, 8-5 and 4-2.
The Bison (28-16, 12-5 Summit League) fell behind early in game one, as UND (8-37, 5-10 Summit League) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. However, Bella Dean would hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first in her first home plate appearance to put the Bison in front, and NDSU never trailed again.
NDSU would add three more in the second, with the first coming after Ella Claus scored from first on a bunt single by Skylar Padgett and a throwing error that followed. Emilee Buringa then doubled in Padgett and scored in the next at bat, as Carley Goetschius hit an RBI single to extend NDSU’s lead to 6-2.
Following a run from the visitors in the third, the Bison added two more runs in the bottom half of the inning, as Chloe Woldruff hit a sacrifice fly to score Reanna Rudd with the bases loaded. In the next at bat, Buringa doubled for the second time in the game to score Kaylee Moore from second for the final runs of the game from NDSU.
Paige Vargas picked up the win, going the distance to improve to 14-8. Vargas allowed five runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Offensively, Buringa led the Bison with three hits in game one, while Rudd and Claus had two hits each.
In game two, the Bison took the lead in the bottom of the first on a RBI single from Dean, scoring Buringa from second.
North Dakota would threaten a couple times and tied the game in the third, before NDSU went back in front in the fifth inning. Woldruff gave the Bison the lead with a double to left center, scoring Claus from second.
The Bison would add two more in the sixth inning, with Dean picking up her fifth RBI of the day on a fielder’s choice ground out that allowed Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage to score from third. The Bison would then load the bases later in the inning and Dean scored on a wild pitch to go up 4-1.
Lainey Lyle picked up her third-straight victory, improving to 12-6, as she allowed just two runs on six hits. Lyle finished with two strikeouts. Dean had the only multi-hit performance in game two for the Bison, but was one of eight Bison to reach safely in the game.
The Bison will look to complete the sweep of North Dakota on Sunday, as NDSU hosts the Fighting Hawks for game three of the series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at Tharaldson Park.
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