OGDEN, Utah – A late five-run inning spelled the downfall for the University of North Dakota softball team, as Weber State went on to win both games of a Big Sky doubleheader on Friday afternoon. UND dropped the first game, 2-0, before losing the nightcap, 8-7, after leading 4-3 through the first five innings.
North Dakota is now 13-22 (1-4 Big Sky) on the season, while Weber State improves to 19-11-1 (3-1 Big Sky).
“It was a frustrating day,” head coach Jordan Stevens said. “Their pitcher had us in knots in game one, but we've got to finish that second game. You score seven, you need to win. You're up late like that, you've got to close the door and we didn't.
“We swung it so much better in that second game, but a couple costly mistakes extended their inning and they made us pay. We've got to stop hurting ourselves, we've got to make plays.”
The Wildcats were led by pitcher Kirtlyn Bohling in the first game of the day, as the junior righty conceded only two hits to UND in the shutout effort.
Kaylin VanDomelen also had a strong performance for UND in the first game, as she posted five innings of shutout softball. However, the Wildcats scored two runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth for the only scoring of the game.
In the nightcap, UND got on the board first with one run in the second inning. The Fighting Hawks then added to their lead in the top of the third, scoring two runs on two hits and two errors. Rachael Waynick led off the third with a double to get into scoring position before a fielding error on VanDomelen's following at-bat allowed her to cross home and put UND up 2-0. Another error later in the inning allowed VanDomelen to score and give North Dakota the 3-0 lead.
Weber State ended UND's shutout bid in the bottom of the third, scoring one run on two hits and cutting UND's lead to 3-1.
North Dakota expanded its lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth inning after Taylor Nadler hit a triple to score Waynick from second base.
The Wildcats responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit to 4-3 before putting together a big sixth inning to pull back ahead. Weber State put up five runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the sixth for its second lead of the day.
The Fighting Hawks attempted to put together its own rally as a three-run bomb by Marina Marzolino brought UND within one run with two outs. Unfortunately, the Wildcats got the final out before UND could score the tying run to take the nightcap, 8-7.
Nadler led UND on the day with three hits on seven at-bats for a .429 average. Both Waynick and Marzolino hit .333 in the doubleheader and scored two runs each, while Marzolino led the Fighting Hawks with three RBI's.
The Fighting Hawks and Wildcats finish the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. (CT).
