BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The University of North Dakota softball team split against California State University Bakersfield on Wednesday afternoon. They won the first game 2-0, then lost the second game 2-0.
Game 1: CSU Bakersfield 0, North Dakota 2
Jackie Albrecht's pitching seemed to be the difference in the Fighting Hawks 2-0 win in the first game of the double-header.
Albrecht pitched a complete game as she struck out a batter in six of the seven innings. She had three strikeouts in the fifth inning to boost her total for the day to seven before adding her final strikeout at the top of the sixth inning. Albrecht gave up a singular hit and no runs in the victory to improve to 4-3 for the season.
The Fighting Hawks secured a 1-2-3 inning in the first to start strong on defense. Headed into the second, both teams struggled as a pitching duel ensued.
North Dakota was the first to threaten on offense as
Liz Feld doubled to right field.
Cassie Castaneda followed and singled down the middle to advance pinch runner
Morgan Flann to third base. Flann scored on a throwing error by the Lancers to place the Fighting Hawks in the lead (1-0) at the top of the fourth. The Fighting Hawks left one on base as CSU Bakersfield earned the final out. In the bottom of the fourth, the Fighting Hawks were able to secure another 1-2-3 inning to keep their lead headed into the fifth inning.
UND once again threatened in the top of the fifth as they placed runners in scoring position, but they were unable to capitalize as the Lancers defense stepped up and secured the outs to place them back on offense. Albrecht stepped into the circle prepared as she pitched three strikeouts to help the Fighting Hawks stay on top.
The sixth remained scoreless as North Dakota was only able to gain one hit off the Lancers pitcher. The Fighting Hawks once again played strong defense as they allowed no hits and had a strikeout and two ground outs.
In the final inning,
Madison Pederson provided the spark as she doubled to center field.
Alexys Campos helped secure the win for North Dakota as she hit an RBI single to bring in pinch runner
Kaycee Hayes to make the score 2-0. Albrecht and the defense secured the victory with three consecutive ground outs.
Game 1: CSU Bakersfield 2, North Dakota 0
The Lancers second run in the bottom of the six secured the 2-0 victory against the Fighting Hawks.
Morgan McConnell pitched a complete game. She struck out two in her five-hit two run game. The loss places her season record at 1-5.
North Dakota came up with six hits in the contest, as
Alexys Campos provide the initial pop with a single on the first at-bat. Campos was able to advance to third base, but she was left stranded as the Fighting Hawks struggled the remainder of the inning. The Lancers also left one stranded on third base in the bottom of the first to keep both teams scoreless.
Madi Moore and Campos finished with two hits for UND.
Izzy Haslett and
Jocelyn Kirk picked up the remaining hits with one each. The Fighting Hawks were unable to come up with a run as the Lancers took the second game with a 2-0 victory.
North Dakota will return to action on Thursday, Mar. 17 as they head to Sacramento State to play a double-header that commences at 3 p.m. CT.
