NDSU Softball Sweeps Final Day of Golden Eagle Classic

HATTIEBURG, Miss. – North Dakota State softball recorded their fourth-straight win as the Bison swept the final day of the Golden Eagle Classic hosted at the University of Southern Miss Softball Complex. The Bison defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 12-1 before beating host Southern Miss 6-5.
 
NDSU started the day with their third-straight win over Maryland Eastern Shore, completing a three-game sweep over the last three days. The Bison scored two runs in the first inning and never relinquished the lead. Amai Hanta scored on a ball in play from Star Cortez that led to an error and then Cortez scored on a Savannah Henzler sacrifice fly.
 
After the Hawks scored a run in the first, the Bison would grow the lead in the third with a sacrifice fly from Bella Dean, before an RBI triple from Hanta in the fourth. Rylee Henderson, Zoe King and Chloe Woldruff all recorded RBIs in the fifth inning, extending the Bison lead to 7-1.
 
The Bison would capitalize on two errors in the sixth inning to add five more runs, as Dean, Henderson and King recorded their second RBIs of the game to grow the lead to 12-1 and set up a run-rule victory for the third-straight game.
 
Kaitlyn Dunford picked up the win in the circle, allowing one run in four innings on two hits and three strikeouts. Savy Williams tossed the final two innings, allowing just one walk with two strikeouts.
 
In game two, Hanta led off the game against Southern Miss with her second triple of the day, but the Bison were unable to score in the opening frame. After Southern Miss scored two in the bottom of the first, the Bison answered back with a three-run second on RBI singles from Henderson, Taylinn Warren and Hanta.
 
Southern Miss would answer back with a run in the bottom of the second to tie the game at 3-3, where it stood until Hanta recorded an RBI double in the sixth and then scored on the next at bat to put the Bison back in front, 5-3.
 
After a Southern Miss home run to cut the deficit to one, Henderson recorded a crucial RBI double in the top of the seventh to give the Bison an insurance run that would be needed, as Southern Miss added a run in the bottom of the seventh and stranded another in scoring position.
 
Piper Reed picked up the win for the Bison, going six innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits with a strikeout. Kaitlyn Dunford inherited a pair of runners on in the seventh and recorded the final three outs for her second save of the season.
 
Hanta and Henderson recorded three hits each for the Bison in the game and also had two RBI as well. Warren also had two hits, while Cortez and Wolduff recorded the other hits for NDSU.
 
The Bison will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Hammond, Louisiana to take on Southeastern Louisiana in a single game. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from North Oak Park.