GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota women's softball team split its opening-day action of the UTEP-Invitational with a 4-3 win over Bradley and a 13-9 loss to host Texas-El Paso.
Early in the season the young team continues to show a lot of depth as the Sioux had seven batters get hits against Bradley and four batters have a multi-hit game against Texas-El Paso.
"We are a lot farther along this year, at this point in the season, than we were last year as conference champions," head coach Sami Strinz said. "I am pleased to see us learning at a much quicker pace."
The Sioux are now 2-4 on the season while sophomores Kayelee Schoeny (Redlands, Calif.) has a team-leading .409 batting average and has at least one hit in every game and Cami Bennett carries a five-game hitting streak into Saturday with a .375 batting average.
UND 4, Bradley 3
The Fighting Sioux opened play at the UTEP Invitational over two hours delayed because of high-scoring, lengthy games before them.
Once started, it didn't take long for the Sioux to grab the game's momentum as they scored three runs in the top-half of the first inning. After Bennett and Schoeny reached base to start the inning, Lindy Sippola (Grants Pass, Ore.) ripped a one-out double to left field giving the Sioux a 2-0 lead. Sippola advanced to third on the throw and the next batter, Brittany Baker (Buena Park, Calif.), would up the lead to three with a single past the shortstop.
UND would open a 4-1 lead in the third inning off a triple by D Jantzer (Grants Pass, Ore.) and a sacrifice fly by Amanda Johnson (Ashby, Minn.).
Bradley would pull within one run in the fourth frame, taking advantage of two stolen bases and a RBI double, but pitcher Emma Gronseth (Forest Grove, Ore.) would limit the damage and never give up the Sioux lead. Gronseth picked up her first win of the season pitching the complete game. She allowed eight hits and two earned runs while striking out six batters.
"We did a great job beating Bradley who just two short years ago won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and made a postseason appearance," Strinz said. There are a few defining moments in a season that all top teams have and one of them is holding on to win a tight game."
"Emma did a tremendous job in the circle for us and Cami, Kayelee and Lindy helped us execute one of our goals which were to put pressure on the other team offensively from the first inning on."
Sippola led the team with going 2-for-4 with one double, two RBI and one run scored.
UTEP 13, UND 9
In a game that didn't end until nearly 12:30 p.m. central time, the Sioux had their second attempt of the early season at Texas-El Paso but again were edged in both. Playing the Miners for the second time in three games, the results were similar as the Sioux would fall short after giving up an early lead and fail in late-inning rally attempts.
"It was a tough loss," Strinz said. "It was a hard-fought battle. We were able to recognize and take several positives from that game though. We fought and clawed the whole way but just ran out of time."
"Anytime we score nine runs it should be enough to win. We just got about every bad break that we could get and need our pitching and play defensively a little better."
The Sioux lost 8-5 on Feb. 11, falling behind 8-0 to UTEP but would pull it to within three runs at the end of the game.
Today, the Miners batted their way to a 8-3 lead after three innings including a five-run first inning.
UND would put up a six-run fifth inning to take a 9-8 lead. Freshman Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) hit her first collegiate home run, a three-run bomb. Only three batters later, Courtney Gonzalez hit another three-run homer to put the Sioux on top.
The lead was short lived though as the Miners regained the lead in their half of the inning and would hold on for the win.
Bennett, Schoeney, Chewning and Sippola all had multi-hit games including a combined five RBI and seven runs.
The Sioux return to action on Sunday for a scheduled 5/7:30 p.m. doubleheader in its third attempt against UTEP and the nightcap against New Mexico State, respectively.
-GO SIOUX-
