CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Fighting Sioux softball team has a short memory.
After a seventh-inning loss to South Dakota State in the season opener earlier in the day, UND blocked out the tough defeat and turned the tables on its opponent by scoring two runs in the seventh to edge Division I Dayton 5-4 at the Ramada UNI-Dome Classic.
The win, the first for Sami Strinz as Sioux head coach, lifts UND's record to 1-1 heading into tomorrow's action.
In a game that was a near mirror image of the loss to SDSU, UND was able to climb back from a 4-0 deficit and scoring the winning runs in the final inning.
Trailing 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, sophomore right fielder Melissa Mowry (Waconia, Minn.) got things started for the Sioux when she his hit by Dayton pitcher Erin LaFayette to lead off the frame.
Another sophomore outfielder, Rhonda Nelk (Wheaton, Minn.) promptly sacrified Mowry to second to put the tying run in scoring position. Sophomore shortstop Abby Rehberger (Brainerd, Minn.) followed, driving a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Mowry and tie the game.
Second baseman Nicole Larson (Oakdale, Minn.) was the next batter up for the Sioux, and she dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Rehberger into scoring position.
That set the stage for sophomore catcher Amber Roth (Shoreview, Minn.), who drove in a career-high three runs in the earlier loss to SDSU. Roth chopped a bouncing ball over the head of Dayton third baseman Blair Crabtree to bring Rehberger to third, and when Flyer left fielder Mollie Schrank bobbled the ball, Rehberger rounded third and scored the winning run.
That UND was even in position to win the game in the seventh was due in large part to a game-changing three-run home run by junior first baseman Nicole Puerling (Camarillo, Calif.) in the fourth inning. With the Sioux trailing 4-0, Puerling ignited the team by lining a rope over the left field fence that put UND on the board.
LaFayette went the distance for Dayton and yielded five runs ? four earned ? on eight hits and one walk. She struck out a pair.
Sophomore Michele Wolf (Lakeville, Minn.) came through with a strong pitching performance for the Sioux, earning her first victory with five innings of relief work. Wolf, who came on for starter Alicia Pearce (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) in the third inning, gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out two.
For Wolf ? who missed the entire 2007 season with an injury ? it was her first win since April 19, 2006.
UND, now 1-1 on the young season, will return to action Sunday morning with another matchup against Dayton, followed by a meeting with host Northern Iowa.
Notes: Puerling's three RBI give her 67 for her career and move her past Christa Kline (1991-94) and into sole possession of UND's all-time list.
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