NDSU Softball Splits Doubleheader at East Texas A&M

COMMERCE, Texas – North Dakota State softball split a doubleheader with host East Texas A&M to open up the Lion Classic Saturday evening at the John Cain Family Softball Complex. The Bison fell to the Lions 4-3 in eight innings in game one, but answered back with an 11-0 shutout win in game two.
 

East Texas A&M took the lead in the second inning with a solo home run and then added two runs with the help of a Bison error in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
The Bison completed a comeback to extend the game to extras with a three-run top of the seventh. Amai Hanta hit a pinch-hit RBI double to score pinch runner Taylinn Warren to start the scoring. Hanta then scored later in the inning on a Star Cortez fielder’s choice and Cortez tied the game on a Bella Dean sacrifice fly.
 

However, East Texas A&M capitalized on another Bison error in the bottom of the eighth to score the walk-off run.
 
Savy Williams picked up the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, on eight hits with three strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. Cortez, Dean, Zoe King and Rylee Henderson joined Hanta with hits in the game. Dean also had a double.
 
In game two, the Bison started strong, scoring five in the first frame. After a Hanta triple to start the game, Warren singled her home to give the Bison the lead. Ella Claus would draw a bases loaded walk for the second run and then Rylee Henderson hit a bases clearing double to give the Bison a 5-0 lead.
 
The Bison would add a run in the third and then add two in the fourth with a pair of bunt singles to take an 8-0 lead. In the fifth inning, the Bison added to their lead with a two-RBI double from Zoe King and an RBI groundout from Chloe Woldruff.
 
Warren and Henderson finished with three hits each in the game. King and Woldruff record a pair of hits each, while Hanta and Henzler capped the 12 hits for the Bison. Henderson finished with a team high four RBIs, tied for the most this season by an NDSU player.
 
In the circle, Kaitlyn Dunford recorded the first shutout of the season for the Bison and the first of her career. Dunford allowed just two hits and a walk with two strikeouts as she allowed just one base runner over the final four innings.
 

The Bison will be back in action on Sunday with a doubleheader against Prairie View A&M. First pitch against the Panthers is set for 10 a.m. from the John Cain Family Softball Complex, with the second game immediately following.