NDSU Softball Drops Pair to Samford

OXFORD, Miss. – North Dakota State softball dropped a doubleheader to Samford on Thursday to open up the Rebel Invitational at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium. The Bison fell 12-6 in game one and dropped game two 13-2.
 
In game one, the Bison jumped out to an early lead as Taylinn Warren and Rylee Henderson recorded RBI singles to put NDSU up 2-0. However, Samford would answer back with three runs in the bottom of the first and then added a fourth run to go up 4-2 in the fourth inning.
 
NDSU would respond in the fifth with a three-run inning to take the lead. With the bases loaded, Chloe Woldruff extended her hit streak to 11-game with a two-RBI double to tie the game at 4-4. In the next at bat, Bella Dean hit an RBI groundout to score Warren from third, putting NDSU back in front.
 
Samford would go back in front in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on a couple RBI doubles and a sacrifice fly. The Bulldogs then added five runs in the sixth to go up 12-5. Amai Hanta would hit her first career home run to lead off the seventh to close the scoring in the game.
 
Seven different Bison recorded hits in the game. Warren was the only Bison to record two hits. Warren and Hanta also scored two runs each. Kaitlyn Dunford picked up the loss in relief, allowing seven runs in two innings. Piper Reed allowed five runs in the first four innings, recording three of NDSU’s four strikeouts from the circle.
 
Game two saw Samford score seven runs in the first inning and the Bison were never able to recover. The Bulldogs would extend their lead with three more runs in the third and fourth innings to go up 13-0.
 
NDSU would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Lileigh Nieto hit an RBI double to score Woldruff and Henderson for NDSU’s only runs of the game. Woldruff, Henderson and Nieto recorded NDSU’s only three hits in the game. Woldruff’s hit extended her hit streak to 12 games.
 
Madison Wihlm picked up the loss, allowing seven runs on six hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Savy Williams tossed the rest of the game, allowing six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.
 
The Bison will be back in action on Friday, taking on Iowa State and host No. 22 Ole Miss. The Bison get underway at noon against the Cyclones and will face the Rebels at 5 p.m.