FORT WAYNE, Ind. – For the second straight season, the University of North Dakota softball team jumped out to another strong start in conference play as the Fighting Hawks defeated Purdue Fort Wayne, 4-1, on Sunday morning to seal a series win and move to 4-2 in Summit League play.
 
With the win, UND (19-24, 4-2 Summit League) remains in fourth place in the conference standings and marks the second straight season that the Fighting Hawks have won at least two conference series to begin league play.
 
The top of the order was strong offensively for the Fighting Hawks in the win, with leadoff hitter Jailene Carpio registering a pair of hits and scoring a run to pace UND's six knocks on the day. Deja Miller added a hit, an RBI, a walk, and a run scored from the No. 2 spot in the order while Marina Marzolino also drove in a run in the winning effort. In the fifth spot, Jocelyn Kirk picked up the final RBI for the Hawks while also registering a hit.
 
Emily Rosas was spectacular in the circle for the visitors, twirling a complete game and allowing only five hits, a run, and a walk while striking out four to notch her fourth win of the season.
 
Much like the rest of the series, North Dakota jumped out to the early lead after Carpio led off the game with a double to left field and moved to third on a wild pitch to immediately put a runner in scoring positon. Two batters later, Marzolino brought home the first run of the game with an RBI groundout to put the Fighting Hawks up 1-0 after just a half inning of play.
 
Rosas kept the Mastodons in check, retiring the first six batters she faced and allowed UND to double its lead in the top of the third. After two batters reached to open the inning, Kirk doubled an 0-2 pitch with two outs to left center to bring home Miller and push the advantage to 2-0 after three innings of play.
 
North Dakota added some insurance in the top of the fourth, as the visitors immediately put two runners on the base paths and quickly moved into scoring position on a wild pitch with one out. The Hawks scored their third run of the game when Carpio was able to reach on a fielding error before Miller grounded out to second to plate the fourth run of the game and increase the lead to 4-0.
 
Rosas danced out of trouble in the fourth by stranding the bases loaded, but the Mastodons were finally able to break through in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit down to three, 4-1, with just one inning to play.
 
Two hitters reached in the final half inning for Purdue Fort Wayne, but Rosas was able to seal the win with a flyout to center and give the Hawks the series win.
 
North Dakota will head to Vermillion, S.D. next week for a three-game series at South Dakota to end a 47-game stretch away from Grand Forks.