BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Falling behind early in both contests, the University of North Dakota softball team rallied to post a pair of emphatic wins over California State Bakersfield on Tuesday afternoon in Bakersfield.
 
UND (13-13) has won its last four games for the second time this season and moves back to the .500 mark for the first time in 2019 since Feb. 8 when the Fighting Hawks were 1-1.
 
GAME 1: North Dakota 8, CSU Bakersfield 2
UND fell in an early 2-0 hole, but posted runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings to score eight unanswered to collect an 8-2 triumph over the Roadrunners in the opening game of the doubleheader.
 
Lexi Mayhood drove home a pair of runs and came around to score once to lead the team, while Alicia Young posted a trio of hits in four at-bats and scored two runs to provide the pop at the plate for the visitors. Victoria Minor and Dani Romero also reached with a pair of hits, with Minor driving in a run on the afternoon.
 
Nikki Pica tossed six innings of eight hit, two run ball to earn her third win of the season. The junior also struck out three and only walked a pair to notch her second victory over her last four starts. Emily Rosas pitched a perfect seventh inning, including a strikeout, to finish off the victory for the Hawks.
 
With the Roadrunners leading 2-0 heading to the top of the fourth, UND started to rally in the frame. After Angel Love reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and Young followed with a single, Minor drove a 2-2 pitch through the left side to drive home Love and get the visitors on the board. Following a wild pitch to move both runners up a base, Mayhood tied the game with an RBI single before Kayleen Schneider gave UND the 3-2 lead with a single up the middle on the very next pitch. Jailene Carpio added a fourth run in the frame with a two-out, RBI single down the right field line to increase the advantage to 4-2 after four innings.
 
North Dakota added insurance in the next inning as a throwing error allowed two runs to score from first and second, extending the lead to 6-2 after five. In the top of the sixth, UND pushed the game out of reach with Marina Marzolino drove in the seventh run with an RBI triple and Love added the eighth with an RBI groundout before Rosas retired the hosts in order to cement the 8-2 victory.
 
GAME 2: North Dakota 7, CSU Bakersfield 4
Just like in the opener, UND erupted for a stretch of consecutive runs to record a 7-4 win over the Roadrunners, tally the sweep over the hosts, and record its fourth win in the last five as a true road opponent.
 
Game two was the Minor show, as the junior drove in four of the seven runs in the win for the Hawks. Minor tallied a pair of hits in three at-bats, drew a walk, scored a run, and brought home four to pace the offense for UND. Marzolino, Schneider, and Mayhood drove home the other trio of runs in the victory, while Deja Miller recorded a multi-hit outing with two knocks in the leadoff spot.
 
Jannay Jones notched her team-leading fifth win in the circle for UND, tossing 6.1 innings of nine-hit, four-run (three earned) ball. The freshman also struck out six and walked two, but had to be lifted with one out in the seventh inning. Rosas picked up her teammate by finishing out the win and sweep.
 
For the second straight game, UND fell behind in the opening inning; however, it didn't talk long for the Hawks to answer. In the top of the second, the visitors broke out with three runs to quickly take a 3-1 lead after two. Minor drove in her first run of the game with a triple to right center before the junior scampered home when Mayhood reached on a fielding error to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead. On the next pitch, Schneider slapped a double down the right field line to plate the third run of the inning, all coming with two outs.
 
One inning later, Minor did it again with another three-bagger. The junior roped her second triple of the game to clear the loaded bases, once against with two outs, to chase the pitcher from the game for CSU Bakersfield and extend the advantage to 6-1 after just three innings of play.
 
Both sides traded runs through the middle innings, as UND held its five-run advantage through the first six innings; however, the Roadrunners threatened in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs, but Rosas shut the door and UND finished off the sweep.
 
North Dakota returns to action on Thursday afternoon with a doubleheader at Pacific beginning at 3 p.m. from Stockton.