FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The University of North Dakota softball team split a pair of contests at Purdue Fort Wayne on Saturday afternoon to open a three-game series against the Mastodons in Summit League play.
 
Capturing a victory in the second game of the series, the Fighting Hawks (18-24, 3-2 Summit League) will now go for their second series win during conference play in their many tries on Sunday morning.
 
GAME 1: Purdue Fort Wayne 7, North Dakota 3
The host-Mastodons used a four-run fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and boost Purdue Fort Wayne to its first conference victory of the season, 7-3, in Saturday's opener.
 
Marina Marzolino led the way for the Fighting Hawks offensively, posting a pair of hits, driving in two, walking once, and coming around to score once to have a piece of all three runs for the visitors. Victoria Minor brought in the other run of the day with a bases loaded walk in the top of the first.
 
Jannay Jones earned the start in the circle, but was lifted after five innings. The freshman allowed eight hits, six runs (two earned), walked three, and only struck out one to leave with her ninth defeat of the season. Emily Rosas allowed one run in her lone frame of relief.
 
It didn't take long for the Fighting Hawks to build a lead, as back-to-back singles following a wild pitch on a strikeout allowed the bases to be full for Minor with two outs before she drew a walk to give UND a 1-0 advantage after just a half inning of play.
 
Purdue Fort Wayne tied the game in the bottom of the third, but the Fighting Hawks responded in the top half of the next frame with two outs again. After two straight base hits by Alyssa Rios and Jailene Carpio followed by a four-pitch walk to Deja Miller loaded the bases again, Marzolino earned the team's second free pass to drive in a run and restore the lead for UND.
 
The Mastodons exploded for five runs over the next two innings to turn the 2-1 deficit into a 6-2 lead heading to the sixth inning. In the frame, both sides traded a run as Marzolino drove home her second RBI of the game, but the 'Dons answered with one of their own to hold on for the 7-3 win.
 
GAME 2: North Dakota 6, Purdue Fort Wayne 2
After seeing Purdue Fort Wayne use a big fifth inning to take control of the game in the series opener, Saturday's finale was North Dakota's turn as the Fighting Hawks used a three-run frame to defeat the Mastodons, 6-2, to salvage a split.
 
Lexi Mayhood and Deja Miller were dynamic at the plate for the Fighting Hawks in the win, combining for a trio of hits and five RBIs to help the visitors account for five of the six runs. Mayhood gave UND the lead with a solo shot in the top of the fourth before providing a crucial two-RBI single in the top of the next frame to extend the visitor's lead to 4-1. Miller brought home the final pair of runs for the Hawks with a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth to provide some insurance.
 
Nikki Pica was terrific in her outing in the circle, going the distance and allowing just a pair of runs and seven hits. The junior also struck out four to register her fifth win of the season.
 
Both teams threatened in the opening three innings, but the pitching and defense from both sides prevailed to keep the game scoreless heading to the fourth. With one out in the top of the frame, Mayhood launched the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for her first home run of the season to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.
 
After the Mastodons tied the game at one in the bottom of the fourth, UND regained the lead in the top of the fifth with a three-run outburst. A pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Kayleen Schneider with two outs before she was struck by the first pitch of the at-bat to bring home a run and give UND a 2-1 advantage. Mayhood brought home another pair of runs with a two-RBI single up the middle to push the lead to 4-1 after five innings and give the Hawks a crooked inning.
 
Miller added two more runs by using her speed to leg out a fielder's choice in the top of the seventh to increase the advantage to 6-1, and Purdue Fort Wayne threatened with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but UND held off the Mastodons to clinch the victory.
 
North Dakota and Purdue Fort Wayne close out the series tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. from Fort Wayne.