Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KANSAS CITY, MO. – The University of North Dakota softball team split the conference opener with Kansas City on Saturday afternoon. They sent both games into eight innings with UND winning the first game 2-0 and Kansas City securing the 4-3 win in the second game.

Kansas City 0, North Dakota 2
 Two runs in the eighth inning sealed the 2-0 win for the Fighting Hawks in the first game of the double-header.

Jannay Jones pitched a complete game for the victory over the Roos to improve to 4-7 on the season. In her 8.0 frames of work, Jones had five strikeouts while allowing five hits.

The Fighting Hawks threatened early as Izzy Haslett doubled to right center in the first inning to place her in scoring position. UND was unable to convert as they ended the inning scoreless. The Roos secured a hit in the first inning as well as they attempted to take the lead.

A pitching battle ensued as neither team had a hit until the top of the fourth when UND's Chevelle Sartin singled to left field. Once again, they were unable to score off the hit as they ended the inning scoreless. Kansas City threatened in the bottom of the fourth as well, but the Fighting Hawks defense secured the outs to keep it at zeroes.

At the end of seven, neither team had scored, which sent the game into an eighth inning. Liz Feld stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle to provide a pop for the Fighting Hawks. Morgan Flann stepped into pinch run for Feld and she advanced to second on a ground out by Jocelyn Kirk. Haslett was walked to place her on first as Sartin stepped up and hit a double to right center, which brought in Flann and Haslett to give the Fighting Hawks the 2-0 advantage.

Kansas City threatened with a double to right center, but Jones and the Fighting Hawks were able to keep the Roos off the board. North Dakota earned the 2-0 victory in the first game of the day.   

Kansas City 4, North Dakota 3
A singular run at the bottom of the eighth secured the 4-3 win for the Kansas City Roos to end the afternoon in a split.

Jackie Albrecht started off in the circle for the Fighting Hawks. In her 6.0 frames of work, she had three strikeouts. She ended the game allowing three runs and six hits. Morgan McConnell stepped in to close out the game. She pitched 1.1 frames as she allowed only one run and four hits. She struck out one Kansas City Roos batter.

Kansas City started the scoring early as they took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Neither team scored again until the fourth inning.

The Fighting Hawks came out prepared at the top of the fourth. Mariah Peters singled to left center to place them on base early. Madison Pederson doubled to left center to advance Peters to third and place herself in scoring position. Jagger Datan was walked to load the bases with zero outs. Morgan Flann stepped into pinch run for Pederson. The Roos secured one out as Albrecht struck out swinging. Jocelyn Kirk stepped up to the plate and brought in Flann to tie it at one each. Kansas City took the lead once more as they scored a run to make it 2-1 headed into the fifth inning.

North Dakota looked to tie it once more in the fifth inning. Chevelle Sartin was the first batter in the order as she stepped up and singled through the right side. She stole second in the next play to advance her to scoring position. Madi Moore stepped up and singled to center field to advance Sartin to third base. Cassie Castaneda singled to left field to earn the RBI and bring Sartin in for the 2-2 tie. North Dakota was unable to score more runs as the Roos replaced their pitcher and she secured the remaining outs of the inning.

The sixth inning remained scoreless. Peters was walked to start the seventh inning as both teams searched for the lead. Peters was advanced to third as Angie Dumlao reached on an error by the short stop. Kirk singled to bring in Peters and give the Fighting Hawks the 3-2 lead headed into the bottom of the seventh. Kansas City scored in the bottom of the seventh to once again send the game into an eighth inning.

Sartin singled down the middle to begin the eighth. She stole second as the Roos pitcher and Kadefense secured the first two outs. Peters was walked to place her on base with Sartin, but the Fighting Hawks were unable to score. The Roos secured the 4-3 victory at the bottom of the eighth.

UND will return to action on Sunday, Mar. 27 against the Roos