GRAND FORKS, N.D. – NDSU pitcher Jacquelyn Sertic tied UND in knots all game long, striking out 15 batters, as the North Dakota softball team dropped a 3-1 decision to North Dakota State on Tuesday afternoon at the Apollo Sports Complex.

Sertic began the contest with five-straight strikeouts and struck out 13 of UND's first 15 batters, giving up just one double in that span.

After Marina Marzolino hit a double in the second inning, Dani Romero connected on an off-speed pitch in the fifth inning for her fourth home run of the year to put UND on the board. Unfortunately, it would be the only run of the game for North Dakota.

The Bison got on the board first in the second inning, using two hits and an error to score two runs. Romero's homer in the bottom of the fifth cut UND's deficit in half, but NDSU responded in the top of the sixth with one run on one hit to take back its two-run lead.

In the top of the seventh, a great defensive play by Alicia Young behind home plate resulted in the final out of the inning as Young threw out an NDSU runner attempting to steal third base.

North Dakota then tried to put together a late rally in the bottom of the seventh. Taylor Nadler hit a one-out single to bring the tying run to the plate. However, NDSU recorded the final two outs on a pop up and a fly out to seal the 3-1 win.

The loss ends a season-best four-game winning streak for North Dakota and now moves UND to 17-24 on the year.

North Dakota returns to the confines of the Apollo Sports Complex this weekend, April 14-15, as the Fighting Hawks host Sacramento State for a three-game Big Sky Conference series. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT), while Saturday's game will begin at 1 p.m.