NDSU Softball Sweeps Prairie View A&M

COMMERCE, Texas – North Dakota State softball picked up a doubleheader sweep of Prairie View A&M to wrap up the Lion Classic Sunday at the John Cain Family Softball Complex. The Bison defeated the Panthers 5-3 in game one and won 11-3 in game two.
 

In game one, Prairie View A&M took the lead in the top of the first with an RBI single and no outs. The Panthers threatened for more, loading the bases, before Addie Bowers recorded three strikeouts to get out of the jam.
 
The Bison answered back immediately, loading the bases for Zoe King to draw a walk to tie the game. Chloe Woldruff then hit a sacrifice fly to put the Bison in front. However, the Panthers tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the third with a solo home run, and then broke the tie with an RBI groundout in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, after a single and a hit by pitch, Savannah Henzler hit a pinch hit double to left center, bringing around two runs to put the Bison back in front, scoring Amai Hanta and Ella Claus. Bella Dean then hit single to left, bringing around an insurance run for the Bison.
 
Rylee Henderson was 3-for-3 in the game with a double, while Bella Dean recorded two hits and added a walk. Hanta and King each finished with a hit and a walk, while Taylinn Warren and Jasmyn Yessian each had a single to complete NDSU’s nine hits in the game.
 
Addie Bowers pitched 6.2 innings to pick up the win, allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Piper Reed came into the game with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh and produced a ground out for the save.
 
In game two, the Bison jumped out to an early lead with a two-RBI single from Hanta and then Star Cortez added an RBI groundout to go up 3-0 in the second.
 
In the sixth inning, the Bison broke the game open with a grand slam from Bella Dean and then a two-run home run from Henzler. It was the first career grand slam for Dean and the first overall for the Bison since Carley Goetschius at Western Illinois on April 2, 2023. It was Dean’s fourth home run of the season and the second for Henzler.
 

The Panthers would add two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the game, but NDSU would score a run in the sixth and another in the seventh on a sacrifice fly and a bases loaded walk to match their season high for runs set Saturday evening against East Texas A&M.
 
Cortez led the Bison with three hits in the game, including an RBI and a run. She also had a walk. Jessica Delatorre finished with two hits and two walks and Henderson also had two hits. The Bison finished with a season high eight walks in the game.
 
Savy Williams pitched a complete game, allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits. She finished with five strikeouts in the victory as she improved to 3-3 on the season.
 
The Bison will return to action next week with a trip to the Twin Cities as NDSU will play five games over three days at the Gopher Indoor Classic hosted at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Bison open up with Miami (OH) and host Minnesota on Friday, February 28, with first pitch against Miami (OH) set for 11:30 a.m. and the game against Minnesota scheduled for 4:30 p.m.