VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of North Dakota softball team dropped a pair of contests to South Dakota on Saturday afternoon in Vermillion to close out a four-game series with the Coyotes.
UND (11-22, 3-5 Summit League) battled in an offensive explosion in the day's opener before dropping a 1-0 pitching duel in the finale to drop three of the four outings on the weekend.
G1: South Dakota 9, North Dakota 7
The Coyotes exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the second to build a 9-4 lead before UND closed the gap to 9-7 in the top of the sixth, but could not get any closer as USD held on for the victory in the opening game of the day.
Alexys Campos was electric with the bat in her hands at the top spot of the order, collecting four hits in five at-bats and coming around to score three runs to pace the Fighting Hawks. The middle of the order also did a lot of damage, with
Katie Bierstedt driving in two runs and scoring two herself and
Madison Pederson collecting three RBIs on two hits.
Adrianna Dilal started the contest in the circle for UND, but was pulled in the second inning after allowing seven hits and six runs before
Jannay Jones finished off the game with five hits and three runs allowed over 4.2 frames.
Much like the second game yesterday, UND jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. A leadoff single by Campos and a walk to
Chevelle Sartin put runners on first and second before a fielder's choice and stolen base by Bierstedt put a pair in scoring position with one out. Pederson followed up with a single to third that allowed two to score and an early 2-0 advantage.
In similar fashion, South Dakota answered right back with two runs of its own in the home half to knot the contest at two after one. It didn't take long for the visitors to jump right back in front, however, with Bierstedt lacing a two-out 2-RBI double to right center to bring home Campos and Sartin to push the advantage back to 4-2.
The Coyotes responded for the biggest inning of the weekend, plating seven runs on seven hits to turn the two-run deficit into a 9-4 lead after just two frames of play.
North Dakota began chipping away in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs for Pederson. The sophomore brought home one run on a sacrifice fly, but the Hawks could only muster the one run to cut it to 9-5 after four. One inning later,
Jocelyn Kirk brought home
Madi Moore on another sacrifice fly to make it 9-6 and Cassie Castenada cut it to 9-7 with an RBI single in the top of the sixth.
UND brought the tying run to the plate in the final frame, but could not complete the comeback as South Dakota held on for the 9-7 victory.
G2: South Dakota 1, North Dakota 0
In a complete 180 from the first game, Saturday's finale brought a pitching duel in a 1-0 South Dakota win.
Lauren Feld battled to a complete game, allowing seven hits over six innings of work and surrendered just one run, but was saddled with a tough defeat.
After scoring seven runs in the opener, UND could only muster a pair of hits, with Sartin and Pederson providing the pop for the Hawks. The visitors put the ball in play, striking out only once, but could not scratch across any runs.
Both teams threatened in the opening innings, but the game remained scoreless through three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, two singles and a sacrifice bunt placed runners on first and third with two outs for the Coyotes. A risky double steal by the hosts resulted in a swipe of home and the lone run of the game.
UND again got the tying run on base and the go-ahead run at the plate in the top of the seventh, but USD closed out the sweep with a 1-0 win.
North Dakota will return home next weekend for a four-game series against Western Illinois beginning Saturday at noon from Apollo Park.
