GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The University of North Dakota softball team fell in the final game of the Furman Classic to end the tournament 2-3.
UND saw the lead slip away in the final contest against Tarleton State who beat the Hawks 5-3.
North Dakota carried a 2-0 lead at the end of the first inning, but the Texans rallied with in the second innning to give them a 3-2 lead. The Fighting Hawks tied at the top of the fifth, but the Texans gained two more runs at the bottom of the fifth to complete the comeback 5-3.
Morgan McConnell had her first career start and tossed 6.0 frames. She allowed five hits while striking out three to earn a record of 0-1.
It was the top of the order that kicked things off for the Fighting Hawks.
Alexys Campos was walked on her first at-bat.
Mariah Peters had a base hit to place her on first, but Campos was called out at second to leave only one on.
Madison Pederson followed with a base hit of her own. It was
Cassie Castaneda who secured the RBI double to bring in Peters and Pederson to give North Dakota the early lead. The Texans stepped up their defense and secured the remaining outs to end the top of the first.
Tarleton State went scoreless at the bottom of the first, and North Dakota went scoreless at the top of the second to keep the score at 2-0.n Tarleton State got their offense going at the bottom of the second to give them the 3-2 lead. UND responded at the top of the fifth with the top of the order causing damage once more as
Jocelyn Kirk scored to tie the game at three. Tarleton State responded immediately at the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run to put them back in front, 5-3.
North Dakota left two on base at the top of the sixth and had a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth to keep them at a two-run deficit. They continued to battle in the top of the seventh, but they left two on base once more to give Tarleton State the 5-3 win.
North Dakota will return to action on Friday, Feb. 18 with a pair of games in Birmingham, Ala. Their first game of the day will be at 12:30 PM against Murray State and their second game of the day will be at 5:30 PM against the host, the University of Alabama Birmingham.
