NDSU Softball Hosts North Dakota in Summit League Series

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State softball will welcome in North Dakota this weekend with a three-game series against the Fighting Hawks in Summit League play. The Bison are set for a doubleheader on Saturday at Tharaldson Park, beginning at 12 p.m., with a single game to close out the series on Sunday, also at noon.
 
Game Coverage
All three games of the series between the Bison and Fighting Hawks will be streamed live on The Summit League Network. A subscription to the Summit League Network is needed to view the games. All games will also include live statistics. Links to the streams and stats will be available on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.
 
On The Xtra
Saturday’s doubleheader against North Dakota will be televised live on WDAY Xtra. Check GoBison.com for full channel listings and coverage areas.
 
Ticket and Parking Information
All seating at Tharaldson Park is general admission and tickets can be purchased at the gate on game day. Adult tickets are $10. Youth (3-17 yrs) tickets are $5. Gates open 60 minutes prior to game time. No pets or outside food and beverages are allowed inside the gate at Tharaldson Park. Parking for all Bison softball games is available in Lot NQ and along 17th Avenue, with overflow parking in Lot RP.
 
Series History
North Dakota State and North Dakota have met 124 times in series history heading into the weekend, the second-most played series for the Bison program. NDSU leads the series 82-41-1. However, North Dakota has won four-straight, including a series sweep last season in Grand Forks. In the Division I era, the Bison hold a 10-9 lead over the Fighting Hawks.
 
Hanta, Bison Sit Atop League In Stolen Bases
Freshman Amai Hanta entered league play with a splash, swiping seven bases in the series at Kansas City. She has 15 stolen bases on the year, which also ranks 85th nationally. Her stolen base percentage of .938 ranks 15th nationally. NDSU has recorded 32 stolen bases (in 38 attempts) this season, which also leads the league lead. The Bison closed out last season with 44 stolen bases, .815 per game. NDSU is averaging .914 stolen bases per game this season.
 
Tough Outs
The Bison lead the Summit League in fewest strikeouts at the plate this season. NDSU has just 113 strikeouts in 992 total plate appearances, striking out just 11.4 percent of the time. The league average is 15.3 percent and South Dakota State is the second closest at 146, striking out 12.1 percent of the time. Zoe King also leads the Bison and the Summit League in Toughest to Strikeout Ratio, at one per 34 trips to the plate, which ranks 24th nationally.
 
Turning Two
North Dakota State leads the Summit League and ranks 19th nationally this season with 19 double plays turned by the defense, including three at Kansas City and four against Omaha in the two Summit League series so far. The Bison turned just 16 double plays last season. 19 double plays turned by the Bison defense is fourth most in NDSU history. The school record is 28 in 2009, with 20 turned in 2011 and 2013 tied for second most.
 
50 Years of Bison Softball
North Dakota State is in the middle of the program’s 50th season in 2025, after officially beginning in 1976. NDSU has amassed over 1200 wins, including 635 in the Division I era, and a Division II National Championship in 2000. The Bison have claimed 23 conference championships in program history, along with 10 NCAA Division I Tournament Appearances, including a Super Regional in 2009.