GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota softball team picked up its 21st win of the season, breaking the program's Division I record for single-season wins with a 2-0 victory over Portland State on Saturday afternoon at the Apollo Sports Complex.
With a 21-29 record on the season, UND breaks its previous mark of 20-35 that was set in 2011 after becoming a Division I member. The all-time program record for wins in a season was set in 2000 when the team finished with a 24-25 record.
Pitchers Kaylin VanDomelen and Alyssa Burk faced off for a second time this weekend, as the two both pitched strongly for their respective sides. Both only conceded two hits in the contest, while VanDomelen struck out four and threw her fourth complete-game shutout of the season.
The Fighting Hawks looked to break through the early stalemate in the bottom of the second. A hit by pitch and a miscue on a fielder's choice put two runners on for North Dakota with two outs. Deja Miller then singled up the middle to load the bases for UND, but the Vikings recorded the final out on a pop up to keep UND off the board.
It wasn't until the fourth that North Dakota was finally able to get on the board. Taylor Nadler led off earning a free pass to first after getting hit. A sacrifice by Mary Martin moved Nadler into scoring position, but it wouldn't be needed, as Marina Marzolino swung at the first pitch she saw and hit a bomb over the center-field wall to give UND the 2-0 lead. It was the second-consecutive game for Marzolino with a home run.
The two runs would prove to be the only scores of the day, as neither pitcher conceded much for the rest of the contest. After giving up a lead-off walk to start the sixth, VanDomelen went on to record six-straight outs to record her 11th win of the season.
North Dakota currently sits in fifth place in the Big Sky Conference standings, with the top six earning a trip to the postseason tournament.
The Fighting Hawks enter the final weekend of the regular season, hosting Southern Utah for a three-game series next weekend, May 5-6. Friday's doubleheader is set to start at 3 p.m. (CT), and Saturday's contest will begin at 1 p.m.
