FARGO, N.D. -- Taking on the top team in the conference, the University of North Dakota softball team dropped a pair of contests at North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon in Fargo.
 
Game 1: North Dakota State 3, North Dakota 0
The Fighting Hawks were unable to overcome a series of bad luck in the first game of their three-game series against North Dakota State. Jannay Jones went toe-to-toe with one of the top pitchers in the Summit League, allowing just an earned run and seven hits while striking out a pair over six innings of work.
 
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when a UND error allowed the Bison to score. UND's defense redeemed themselves in the bottom of the fifth inning, where they were able to fight off some advances by the Bison offense and keep the Bison lead at only one run.
 
UND struggled on offense, unable to really get things rolling. Their bad luck continued with two outs and two runners on base in the top of the sixth inning. What would have been a base hit by Deja Miller to more than likely tie the game at one, Angel Love was struck by the ball between first and second base giving NDSU their third out and keep the hosts in front, 1-0, heading to the bottom of the frame.
 
In that frame, the bad luck continued for UND as NDSU got an RBI scoring one, but two Fighting Hawks errors allowed the batter to advance all the way around the bases. UND was able to close out the inning and strand one runner in scoring position, but found themselves trailing the Bison 3-0 heading into the final frame.
 
The Fighting Hawks tried to battle back but failed to get their offense going, ultimately falling to the Bison, 3-0.
 
Game 2: North Dakota State 14, North Dakota 0 (5)
The bad luck continued for the Fighting Hawks into game two of the series, as North Dakota State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in a 14-0 triumph in the finale of Saturday's action.
 
 NDSU had a quick start, scoring seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning. UND struggled to shut down the Bison offense and couldn't quite get their own offense going.
 
A few errors from the Fighting Hawks continued to allow NDSU to extend their lead. The Bison led 14-0 going into the fifth frame. UND struggled offensively, recording only one hit in all five innings.
 
North Dakota and North Dakota State close out the regular season tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. from Fargo in the series finale.