TEMPE, Ariz.-- The University of North Dakota softball team faced a pair of teams that appear in the Naational Fastpitch Coaches Association top 25 poll Friday, falling to Texas State, 11-2, before an 8-0 loss to host Arizona State. The Bobcats are receiving votes in that national poll while the Sun Devils are 18th ranked nationally.
"We let both games get away from us late today," UND head coach Jordan Stevens said. "We hit the ball well in game one but struggled in all other aspects which allowed Texas State to pull away. In game two the score doesn't do how the game was played justice. We had some chances but didn't capitalize and they did. I thought we pitched it and defended it pretty well."
GAME ONE
Texas State 11, North Dakota 2 (6 inn.)
Angel Love hit her first career homer to continue her hot streak to start the season, but three multi-run innings for Texas State helped the Bobcats to an 11-2 win in the opening game of the Littlewood Classic for North Dakota.
Texas State struck early with a three-spot in the first and held that lead until the fifth when the Bobcats added three more for a 6-0 advantage. UND would answer in the bottom of that frame, though, with Love's two-run homer. After Kaylin VanDomelen singled for her second hit of the game with one out, Love lifted her first career dinger and her fourth extra-base hit of the young season for a 6-2 score.
North Dakota kept the rally going in that inning with singles by Taylor Nadler and Michaela Zins with both runners advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. Texas State was able to get out of the jam, however, to end the threat.
In the sixth, Texas State used back-to-back homers to help post six runs in the frame for an 11-2 win in six innings. North Dakota tallied seven hits in the loss with two from VanDomelen.
GAME TWO
#18 Arizona State 8, North Dakota 0 (5 inn.)
North Dakota went toe-to-toe with the Sun Devils early as VanDomelen held ASU to just a single run with three strikeouts with two down in the third. It was just 1-0 ASU at that point until a Maddi Hackbarth homer, followed by a single run in the fourth and a four-run fifth.
UND was held to just one hit, however, offensively as Natalie Gerber's single in the third during the Fighting Hawks' biggest threat. Gerber's one-out knock preceeded VanDomelen reaching on an error. Love reached on a fielder's choice then stole second to put runners at second and third with two outs. ASU starter Alyssa Loza was able to get an inning-ending strikeout to douse the rally.
North Dakota (3-4) continues play in the Littlewood Classic Saturday with a 10:00 a.m. game against San Diego and a 3:15 p.m. rematch with Texas State.
