VERMILLION, S.D. – The North Dakota softball team rallied in the sixth, but they were unable to pull off the comeback as they fell to South Dakota 14-9 in the third game of the series. Four runs in the seventh inning sealed the victory for the Coyotes.
Jannay Jones kicked things off for the Fighting Hawks on the mound. She put in 2.0 frames of work. She struck out two while allowing five hits and four runs.
Lauren Feld stepped in for Jones and pitched 4.0 innings. She struck out four batters, and she allowed eight hits and eight runs.
Jackie Albrecht stepped in to round out the pitching. In her 1.0 frame of work, she allowed one hit and two runs while striking out two Coyotes.
North Dakota took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Jocelyn Kirk stepped up as the first batter in the lineup and hit a lead-off inside the park homer. The inning continued as
Madi Moore grounded out and
Chevelle Sartin fouled out, but it was
Lauren Feld who provided another pop. She singled to place herself on the diamond and extend the first inning. The Coyotes switched pitchers, and
Madison Pederson doubled to bring in La. Feld. This placed the Fighting Hawks up 2-0 headed into the second inning.
The Coyotes quickly tied it at the top of the second. North Dakota was unable to earn a hit at the bottom of the second as the two remained tied (2-2) headed into the third inning.
The Coyotes scored five runs in the top of the third to take the 7-2 lead.
Alyssa Rios doubled to start the bottom of the third, but UND was unable to bring her home as USD secured the outs. North Dakota stepped up defensively in the top of the fourth to secure a 1-2-3 inning. Pederson was walked to start the bottom of the fourth.
Izzy Haslett reached on fielder's choice, but Pederson advanced to second on an error by the Coyotes second base player. Rios was walked to load the bases with two outs, but the Fighting Hawks could not bring in runners as it remained 7-2 headed into the fifth inning.
At the top of the fifth, USD scored three runs to extend their lead to 10-2. UND battled as Moore singled and advanced to third on an error by the third base player. La. Feld stepped up to the plate and reached on a fielder's choice, which brought in Moore to make it 10-3 headed into the sixth inning.
North Dakota stepped up defensively and did not allow South Dakota to score as they headed into the bottom of the sixth.
Mariah Peters led the offense off with a single to center field.
Liz Feld stepped into pinch hit for
Angie Dumlao and doubled to bring in Peters and make it 10-4. Kirk reached on a fielder's choice to place runners on second and third. Sartin was hit by a pitch with two outs as La. Feld stepped up to the plate. She singled to right field for a RBI double to make it 10-6 late in the game. The Coyotes switched pitchers once more, but Pederson stepped up and hit a single to center field to bring in Sartin and cut the deficit to three (10-7). USD adjusted to earn the remaining out and limit the damage.
USD's offense scored four runs to increase their lead once more. Li. Feld was walked to place her on first at the bottom of the seventh as UND fought. Rios reached on an error to place Li. Feld in scoring position with only one out. Kirk singled to pitcher to load the bases with one out as Moore stepped up to the plate. Moore reached on fielder's choice, but UND was clocked out at home to keep the score 14-7. Sartin singled to center field to bring in Kirk and Rios and make it 14-9. UND was unable to score more as USD secured the final out of the game to win 14-9.
The Fighting Hawks return to action on Saturday, April 23 at noon against the St. Thomas Tommies in St. Paul, Minn.
