MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – North Dakota State softball picked up a 2-1 win over Fordham Sunday morning to close out the Charleston Invitational at Patriots Point.
Bella Dean gave the Bison (3-2) an early lead in the top of the first. With one out in the inning, Dean sent the first pitch she saw over the fence in left for a solo home run.
Jasmyn Yessian then stepped up and roped a single to center field in the next at bat. After Zoe King reached on a fielder’s choice, freshman Savannah Henzler tripled home King to double the Bison lead.
NDSU would threaten again in the second inning, loading the bases with one out, but the Rams used a force at home and a line out to escape without a bigger deficit.
Fordham (1-4) would cut into the Bison lead in the fifth, leading off the inning with a double and scoring two batters later. The Rams then loaded the bases, but the Bison held the lead after NDSU turned the second of three double plays in the game defensively.
Fordham would also get the go-ahead run on base in the seventh inning with back-to-back singles, but Addie Bowers took over the circle and produced a fielder’s choice groundout and a couple fly outs for the save.
Piper Reed picked up her first win, going six innings, allowing one run on nine hits with one strikeout. Eight different Bison had a hit in the game, with Yessian recording two hits to lead the way.
The Bison close the Charleston Invitational with three wins, all by 2-1 scorelines. NDSU will now travel to Mexico, meeting up with BYU to kick off the second weekend of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The Bison face the Cougars at noon on Wednesday in the first of five games over four days in Puerto Vallarta.
https://gobison.com/news/2025/2/9/ndsu-softball-wraps-opening-weekend-with-win-over-fordham.aspx