BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – The University of North Dakota softball team lost a pair of contests in the second day of action at the Blazer Classic hosted by the University of Alabama Birmingham
It was a long day for the Fighting Hawks (3-6), who began the day at 10 a.m. against Toledo. The green and white then closed out the day against the host, UAB, with a start around 3 p.m.
Toledo 8, North Dakota 3
Despite a pair of runs to give the Fighting Hawks the early lead, UND could not contain the Toledo offense in a 8-3 loss to open the day on Saturday.
Jackie Albrecht made the start and pitched 6.0 innings. She had a seven-hit, five-run game. She struck out eight runners in her second outing of the tournament.
Lauren Feld pitched the remainder of the game in relief, she allowed one hit and three runs during her 1.0 frame of work.
The Fighting Hawks started the game with a quick 1-2-3 inning as the Rockets had two ground outs and one strike out. It was once again the top of the order that cracked the scoreboard.
Jocelyn Kirk was walked during her first at-bat, and she was followed by
Alexys Campos who singled to left field. The Rockets pitcher walked
Mariah Peters, but it was
Madison Pederson who doubled to left field to secure and RBI and allow Campos to score.
Cassie Castaneda had an RBI as well as she brought Peters in to put the Fighting Hawks up 2-0 at the end of the first inning.
Both teams went scoreless in the second inning, but the Rockets caught up to the Fighting Hawks in the third inning. They scored three runs to give them the 3-2 advantage. North Dakota was unable to tie it until the fourth inning when Peters earned an RBI as
Priscilla Gresham scored to make it 3-3 headed into the fifth.
Toledo jumped out to a 5-3 lead at the top of the sixth and added three more to make it 8-3 at the top of the seventh. The Fighting Hawks tried to rally, but they were unable to make the comeback as they fell to the Rockets 8-3.
UAB 2, North Dakota 0
It was another pitching duel as the Fighting Hawks faced the host, the Blazers, for the second time of the weekend. North Dakota battled, but they fell once more to UAB who won 2-0.
Morgan McConnell had a complete game, allowing eight hits over six innings of work and surrendered two runs. She also struck out two in the tough battle.
The first three frames saw a fierce pitching duel as both pitchers had consecutive 1-2-3 innings. UAB was the first to place a player on base with a walk at the bottom of the third, but McConnell secured the last out before the runner could advance to scoring position.
The top of the order was the first to secure hits for the Fighting Hawks as they landed three in the top of the fourth, but they were unable to convert them into runs. It was not until the bottom of the fifth when UAB hit a home run to place them up by one. It was followed by another run towards the end of the inning that secured the 2-0 advantage for the Blazers.
The Fighting Hawks threatened again in the sixth inning, but they were unable to score as they fell to UAB once more.
North Dakota returns to action tomorrow with one more game against Toledo at 10 a.m.
