NDSU Softball to Face Southeastern Louisiana in Midweek

FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State softball continues its spring break trip this week with a midweek battle in Hammond, Louisiana at Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night. The Bison and Lady Lions will play a single game beginning at 6 p.m. from North Oak Park.
 
Game Coverage
NDSU’s match up with Southeastern Louisiana will be streamed live on ESPN+. The game will also have live statistics. Links to the stream and stats will be available on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.
 
A Return to Hammond, Louisiana
The Bison make their second ever trip to Hammond, Louisiana, having played in the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic in 2009. NDSU was a perfect 5-0 in that trip to Hammond, including a 5-1 win over Southeastern Louisiana. NDSU also set a Bison Division I era record on that trip with 25 runs in a win over Jackson State. The Bison have enjoyed success in the state of Louisiana as well, holding an all-time record of 17-8 in the state and a 15-4 against mid-major programs.
 
Series History

The Bison are set to face Southeastern Louisiana for the fourth time in program history when the two teams meet on Tuesday. NDSU holds a 2-1 lead in the series, beginning with a 5-1 win over the Lady Lions at the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic on Feb. 13, 2009. The Bison then won 9-0 in five innings at the Florida Bubly Invitational on Feb. 14, 2020. Last season, the Lady Lions won 5-1 at the Texas A&M Invitational on Feb. 23.
 
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 632 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.
 
Wihlm Tosses One Hitter
Madison Wihlm picked up her first career shutout in the circle against Maryland Eastern Shore and also tossed a one hitter in the process. Wihlm kept the Hawks hitless until the sixth and ultimately final inning of an 8-0 run-rule victory, as UMES picked up their lone hit to lead off the inning. Wihlm became the first Bison to toss a one hitter since Paige Vargas did so in a Summit League contest at Kansas City on March 25, 2023, a 10-0 win for NDSU in five innings.
 
Career Weekend for Star
Star Cortez had a breakout weekend for the Bison at the Golden Eagle Classic, hitting .529 (9-for-17) over five games. Cortez recorded a double and also reached on a pair of walks and recorded three stolen bases aiding in to nine total runs scored. The weekend was led by a four-hit performance against Maryland Eastern Shore on Saturday, that also included two stolen bases. Both were career highs for the sophomore. Cortez also had a rare feat of scoring three runs in three-consecutive games during the weekend.
 
Woldruff On Career Streak
Senior Chloe Woldruff is currently on a career best run at the plate, entering the week on a nine-game hit streak and an 11-game on-base streak. During the hit streak, Woldruff is leading the team with a .458 batting average and a .519 on-base percentage. She has also recorded six RBI and five runs scored and is second in slugging at .583.
 

Woldruff has started all but one game for the Bison. Woldruff was held out of the lineup in the first game at East Texas A&M, entering that weekend hitting .091. Since then, she has started all 13 games, hitting .394 with a .475 on-base percentage, seeing her average climb to .273 with a .369 on-base percentage.
 
Henderson On Hot Streak Since Mexico
Rylee Henderson has made a significant change at the plate in the last three weeks, hitting .463 over the last 14 games, including 19-for-41 at the plate with six doubles, 14 RBI and six runs scored. Henderson was hitting .118 after the opening two weeks, which concluded in Mexico.
 
Warren Getting On and Scoring With Opportunities
Over the last three weeks, Taylinn Warren has hit .500 at the plate, going 12-for-24, along with two walks for a .538 on base percentage. Both numbers lead the Bison during the stretch. Warren has recorded four RBI at the plate as well. Once on base, Warren has made the most of her opportunities, going 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts and coming around to score nine runs, scoring 64 percent of the times she has reached.
 
Freshmen Contributing Early In Careers
Through five weeks, NDSU’s four freshmen have combined for 53 starts, with everyone starting at least 11 games. Savannah Henzler leads the freshmen with a .325 average and 10 RBI. Amai Hanta leads the Bison with 17 runs scored and also leads the team with three triples and eight stolen bases. Jessica Delatorre, who has a .462 on base percentage over the last three weeks, is hitting .290 on the year and hit her first career home run at Southern Miss. Lileigh Nieto recorded her first multi-RBI game in Hattiesburg.
 
Dean Breaks HR Skid, Averaging One Per Weekend
Bella Dean snapped a 19-game streak without a home run on opening weekend against Fordham, the longest of her career. Dean then added two in the come-from-behind win over Florida International in Mexico, before her first career grand slam against Prairie View A&M. She hit her team-leading 21st career home run against Maryland Eastern Shore and is averaging a home run per week this season.