BEMIDJI, Minn.--Sophomore Nicole Puerling set UND's single-season record for runs batted in, highlighting UND's non-conference sweep at Bemidji State this afternoon. The Sioux won the first game 3-2, then followed with a 5-4 win in the eighth inning.
Game 1: UND 3, Bemidji State 2
Freshman left fielder Lindsey Gaustad (Fergus Falls, Minn.) drove in Jess Price (Sr., Dalton, Minn.) with the winning run in the top of the seventh inning, lifting the Sioux to a 3-2 victory. Gaustad's game-winning knock came immediately after the Beavers had tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
BSU opened a quick lead with a run off Sioux starter Alicia Pearce (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) in the bottom of the first inning, but UND would eventually take a 2-1 run lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. First Justine Wernick (Jr., Eagan, Minn.) drove home Anne Lothian (Fr., St. Paul, Minn.) with a single, then Gaustad brought home freshman Abby Rehberger (Brainerd, Minn.) with a suicide squeeze.
Pearce improved to 10-11 with her strong outing, giving up just four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. She fanned three and walked one.
Game 2: UND 5, Bemidji State 4 (8 innings)
A bases loaded walk to junior Carrie Oswald (Duluth, Minn.) brought home Melissa Mowry (Fr., Waconia, Minn.) with the winning run as UND completed the sweep with another late-inning, one-run win.
Oswald's game-winning walk ensure sophomore first baseman Nicole Puerling (Camarillo, Calif.) could celebrate a record-breaking day with a victory. Puerling drove in a pair of runs to up her season total to 37, breaking Jennifer Soderquist's five-year-old school record for RBI in a season.
Puerling's second RBI, a sacrifice fly that plated Marie Kriegler (Fr., Lino Lakes, Minn.) ignited a three-run in the third inning that turned a 3-1 BSU lead into a 3-3 tie. Wernick and Gaustad also each drove in a run for UND during the inning.
Kriegler earned the victory to push her record to 9-14. She went the distance and gave up five hits and four runs, two of which were unearned. She walked four and struck out four.
UND, now 19-25 on the season, hosts the University of Mary on Wednesday in the final regular season games of the season for the Sioux. The non-conference doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. at Ulland Softball Complex.
Notes: In addition to Puerling, Pearce also made a bit of team history this afternoon, becoming just the sixth UND freshman pitcher ever to win 10 games ... Wernick is hitting .520 (13-for-25) with seven RBI over her last eight games ... Gaustad is hitting .375 with seven RBI over her last four games.
