NDSU Softball Splits With League Leading St. Thomas

ST. PAUL, Minn. – North Dakota State softball picked up a doubleheader split with St. Thomas on Friday, falling in game one 12-2, before winning in game two 5-4
 
St. Thomas jumped out to an 8-0 lead after two innings in game one, scoring six in the first and adding two more in the second. The Bison would respond with two runs in the third, starting with an RBI triple from Star Cortez, scoring Ella Claus. Cortez then scored on an RBI groundout from Amai Hanta.
 
However, St. Thomas would add four more runs in the fourth to cap the scoring and win by run rule. Cortez finished with two of NDSU’s five hits. Hanta, Jessica Delatorre and Rylee Henderson also had hits. Savy Williams picked up the loss, allowing six runs in an inning with one strikeout.
 
In game two, the Bison took the early lead, as the Bison recorded back-to-back one-out hits to set up a sacrifice fly from Savannah Henzler to score Hanta for a 1-0 lead. In the third inning, the Bison loaded the bases and Jasmyn Yessian hit a triple to right center for three more runs and a 4-0 lead for the NDSU.
 
St. Thomas would answer, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third before another run in the fourth. Trailing by one in the seventh, St. Thomas rallied to score the tying run with two outs and force extra innings.
 
However, the Bison loaded the bases in the top of the eight with one out, setting up a sacrifice fly from Zoe King to put the Bison back in front. Piper Reed then came back out to the circle and pitched a scoreless eighth inning to finish a complete game and the victory for NDSU.
 
Hanta, Chloe Woldruff, Yessian and King also finished with two hits in the game. Bella Dean also reached on a pair of walks. Reed tossed all eight innings for the win, recording five strikeouts.
 
NDSU and St. Thomas will wrap up the series on Saturday with the rubber match from South Field. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.