TUCSON, Ariz. --- The University of North Dakota dropped a pair of closely contested games today in the Hillenbrand Invitational, dropping to 3-4 overall on the season.

The Fighting Sioux opened the day suffering an extra-inning 4-1 loss to Southern Utah in an eight-inning affair while nearly pulling off a remarkable comeback in a 9-8 defeat to Alabama Birmingham.

UAB 9, UND 8

Alabama Birmingham jumped all over the Sioux early in the contest, building a 9-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

North Dakota rallied the rest of the game to pull within one run, but the Blazers would hold off the comeback attempt. The Sioux scored a pair of runs in each of the second and fourth innings while pushing four across home plate in the sixth inning.

"We showed good fight," head coach Eric Oakley said. "But lack of execution on the mound and on defense put us in a bad spot. Credit Abby Jo (Tometich) for coming in and giving our team a chance to catch up." 

Sophomore shortstop Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) led UND offensively going 3-for-5 from the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. Cami Bennett (Grants Pass, Ore.), D Jantzer (Grants Pass, Ore.) and Kenna Olsen (Issaquah, Wash.) each added two hits in the game.

The Fighting Sioux collected nine hits in the game and added five walks, but stranded eight runners on base in the game.

SUU 4, UND 1 (eight innings)

Southern Utah rallied for an extra-inning 4-1 win over North Dakota to open the second day of the Hillenbrand Invitational.

In a pitcher's duel, both UND's Michelle Frank (Chaska, Minn.) and SUU's Heather Black went through the seven regulation innings pitching shutouts.

"Michelle pitched a great game," Oakley said. "When you pitcher shuts a team down you need to find a run and we did not deliver."

Entering the first extra frame, UND placed Emma Gronseth (Forest Grove, Ore.) on second who would be advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kenna Olsen (Issaquah, Wash.). Jessi St. Marie (Zumbrota, Minn.) would follow it up with the game's first RBI, connecting for a sacrifice fly to right field.

Black would allow only the one run in the inning and the game going eight innings while giving up five hits and one walk and striking out eight batters.

The Thunderbirds would answer with a walk-off home run though in their half of the inning. With a runner placed on second, SUU pick up a two-out single to score Mallory Wilkinson.

With the game tied and a runner on first with two outs, the Thunderbirds followed it up with a walk and then Kadi Henderson homered to right field.

Junior Brittany Baker (Buena Park, Calif.) led the Sioux with two of their five hits.  

North Dakota concludes action tomorrow at noon with a rematch against Southern Utah.