AMES, IOWA --- The University of North Dakota softball team edged Drake 4-3 today in the second day of the Ramada--UNI Dome Classic.

UND improves to 2-0 on the year after defeating host Northern Iowa 8-4 yesterday in its season-opener. UND handed both teams its first loss of the season, as both entered its game against the Sioux 1-0.

"Emma pitched a strong game, keeping the Drake offense at bay and giving our hitters a chance to put something late," head coach Eric Oakley said. "Caralyn's home run late was key. We overcame some baserunning miscues and beat a very good Drake team." 

The Fighting Sioux took advantage of seven hits and six walks to push across four runs, while Emma Gronseth (Forest Grove, Ore.) picked up her first win of the season in the circle.

Gronseth pitched 6.1 innings giving up only four hits and three walks while allowing three runs. She struck out six in the winning effort.

Junior Cami Bennett (Grants Pass, Ore.) led the Sioux offensively with two hits, going 2-for-4, while sophomore shortstop Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) hit UND's first home run of the season.

Catcher Jessi St. Marie (Zumbrota, Minn.) also went 2-for-2 with one walk while D Jantzer (Grants Pass, Ore.) went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.

For the second straight game UND scored in the top of the first inning to take an early lead and Bennett led off the game with a hit. Senior Erica Younan (Chico, Calif.) walked and then Jantzer picked up the game's first RBIs with a double to score both Bennett and Younan.

Drake answered in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs off two hits and UND's first error of the season.

The game would go without a run as both pitchers settled in until UND regained the lead off Chewning's 2-run shot in the top of the fifth inning.

UND allowed a single run in the seventh inning, but Michelle Frank (Chaska, Minn.) entered the game and picked up the her first save of the season.

UND is playing Western Illinois at 8 p.m. looking to go 3-0 to start the season for the first time for since 1995.