MACOMB, Ill. -- The University of North Dakota finished the series with Western Illinois on Sunday with a 4-0 victory.
Jannay Jones pitched a complete game victory as she struck out three. She allowed seven hits and no runs to improve to 5-9 for the season.
North Dakota started the scoring early with the top of the order causing damage in the top of the first.
Jocelyn Kirk was the first batter of the afternoon, and she singled up the middle. Kirk advanced to second and third as Western Illinois picked up the first two outs.
Cassie Castaneda stepped up to the plate and hit a ball just over the Leathernecks pitcher to bring in Kirk and give the Fighting Hawks the 1-0 lead.
Madison Pederson was walked as she joined Castaneda on the bases. The Leathernecks pitcher hit
Mariah Peters to advance her to first and load the bases.
Izzy Haslett stepped up and singled to center field for an RBI single as Castaneda scored to give UND the 2-0 early. The Leathernecks were unable to respond at the bottom of the first as they left two runners on base.
The Leathernecks threatened in the bottom of the second, but they were unable to bring in the runners as they left two on base once more. A pitching battle ensued as both teams secured a 1-2-3 innings in the third.
In the fourth inning, both teams secured a hit but neither team was able to score as it remained 2-0 UND headed into the top of the fifth.
It was the top of the order who once again caused some damage against the Leathernecks. Kirk led the inning off with a double to left center.
Madi Moore stepped up and grounded out, but she advanced Kirk to third as Sartin stepped up to the plate. Sartin doubled to left center and secured the RBI single as Kirk scored to make it 3-0 with two outs remaining. The Leathernecks pitcher secured two strikeouts to limit the runs to one headed into the bottom of the fifth. Western Illinois battled as they secured a hit, but the Fighting Hawks warded them off.
Both teams remained scoreless in the sixth inning. UND struck once more in the top of the seventh as
Jagger Datan advanced to first on an error by the pitcher. Kirk and Moore were shut down by the Leathernecks defense as Datan advanced to third with one out remaining. Sartin stepped up to the plate and singled to right center to secure her second RBI of the afternoon and bring in Datan to add the fourth run of the afternoon. The Leathernecks were able to stop the Hawks from scoring once more as they headed into the bottom of the seventh. Jones and the Hawks defense secured the first two outs quickly, but the Leathernecks snuck a hit to right center. Jones struck out the final batter to secure the 4-0 victory.
North Dakota returns to action on Saturday, April 9 at noon from Apollo in Grand Forks, ND. They will play their first home series of the season against the Omaha Mavericks.
