NDSU Softball Falls to Illinois State in Mexico Finale

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – North Dakota State softball closed the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on Saturday with a 3-0 loss to Illinois State at Nancy Almaraz Field.
 
The Bison fell behind in the third inning as a dropped fly ball allowed an unearned run to score and NDSU was unable to recover, stranding eight Bison on the base paths. Illinois State would add two more runs in the fifth with a two RBI single.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, North Dakota State would record three-straight two-out singles to load the bases, but the Bison would pop up to end the inning and NDSU’s best scoring threat of the game. Five of NDSU’s eight stranded were left on base in scoring position.
 
Savannah Henzler and Ella Claus each had two hits in the game. Star Cortez, Zoe King, Chloe Woldruff and Rylee Henderson recorded the other hits for the Bison.
 
Piper Reed picked up the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, in 4.2 innings of work. She finished with five strikeouts and allowed six hits. Kaitlyn Dunford tossed the final 2.1 innings, allowing four hits with two strikeouts.
 

The Bison will return to action next week with a trip to Commerce, Texas to take on Prairie View A&M and East Texas A&M in the Lion Invitational. NDSU will play both teams on Friday, February 21, beginning with Prairie View A&M at 2:30 p.m.