MORAGA, Calif. – The University of North Dakota softball team split the first day of games against Saint Mary's. They fell 3-2 in an extra inning in the first game and won 3-0 in the second game.
Saint Mary's 3, North Dakota 2
The Gaels opened up the scoring in the opener at the bottom of the first inning and extended the lead in the second to place them on top early. The Fighting Hawks responded with two runs of their own in the top of the seventh to send the game into an extra inning. Saint Mary's was able to secure one run in the eighth inning to earn them the 3-2 win.
Jackie Albrecht pitched a complete game. She secured three strikeouts while giving up six hits and three runs.
In the first frame,
Izzy Haslett was the first to earn a spot on first base as she was walked by the opposing pitcher.
Chevelle Sartin stepped up to bat next and hit a single to advance Haslett into scoring position. North Dakota was unable to capitalize as the pitcher and the defense stepped up to secure the remaining two outs. The Gaels were the first on the board as they scored of a triple to right field to give them an early 1-0 lead.
The Fighting Hawks continued to battle in the second as
Jocelyn Kirk doubled, but they were unable to capitalize in the second. Saint Mary's extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second as a batter doubled to bring in a runner.
The teams remained scoreless until the top of the seventh.
Jagger Datan was walked by the pitcher to place her on base. She advanced to second on a Kirk fly out.
Madison Pederson stepped up to the plate and hit a home run to bring herself and Datan in to tie it (2-2). Saint Mary was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, which pushed the game to an extra inning.
At the top of the eighth, the Fighting Hawks threatened as Haslett advanced to third with only one out. The Gaels secured the remaining two outs to move them on offense where they scored off of a single to center field to give them the 3-2 victory.
Saint Mary's 0, North Dakota 3
The University of North Dakota secured a 3-0 victory over Saint Mary's with two runs in the top of seventh.
Morgan McConnell played a complete game to earn her the victory in the circle. She secured three strikeouts and allowed only three runs as she improved to 2-5 for the season.
The game remained scoreless through three innings as the teams entered a pitching duel. The Gaels were able to earn one hit off of McConnell, but they were unable to convert it into a run.
It was North Dakota who opened up the scoring in the top of the fourth.
Alexys Campos was hit by a pitch to place her on first.
Izzy Haslett stepped up to bat and singled up the middle to advance Campos to second.
Chevelle Sartin grounded out, but Campos and Haslett were able to advance to place them in prime scoring position.
Cassie Castaneda singled through the left side to earn the RBI single as Haslett scored to place UND up by one.
Neither team was able to score in the fifth and sixth as North Dakota held onto the 1-0 lead. In the top of the seventh, it was Campos who earned an RBI double as she singled up the middle to bring in
Jocelyn Kirk and
Morgan Flann. The runs earned North Dakota the 3-0 victory as they secured a 1-2-3 inning at the bottom of the seventh.
North Dakota will return to action on Sunday, March 20 against Santa Clara at 2 p.m. CT and Saint Mary's thirty minutes after the first game.
