FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team won its second straight weekend series in Summit League action as they took down St. Thomas 9-8 Sunday, taking the series 2-1. Down 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth, Madison Pederson went opposite field as she hit a long bomb over the right field fence; landing in a large snow bank on the opposite side of the wall. Jackie Albrecht got the win for UND while Makaela Carr, who had started the game, came back in to get the save. Ella Cook took the loss.

Very gusty winds affected the game all day, starting with the first at bat as UST led off with a solo home run. But Makaela Carr limited the damage as she got two key outs with runners on second and third to end the inning. UST added another run in the second and another in the fourth, but in the bottom of the fourth UND would go off.

Mariah Peters singled up the middle to bring Cassie Castaneda in to make it a 3-1 game. Later Taya Hopfauf reached on a fielder's choice and Pederson came in to score and make it 3-2. Angie Dumlao followed with a single that brought Peters in to tie the game. Later Joten singled up the middle to bring Hopfauf in and take a 4-3 lead. Castaneda came up for the second time in the inning and singled into center field to bring Madi Moore and Dumlao in to score and make it 6-3.

UST scored three in the top of the fifth to tie it at six, then took the lead in the top of sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Madi Moore led off with a walk and then Castaneda got a one out single to bring Pederson to the plate who launched the game winning shot. UST got one back in the top of the sixth but Carr was able to get a crucial flyout to win the game.

Key Points

·        Pederson finished the weekend with 11 RBIs and six extra base hits, including two home runs.

·        Carr picked up her first career save.

·        Moore has hit safely in ten straight games.

·        Castaneda racked up eight hits over the weekend.

Scoring Summary

T1 | Wukawitz home run (0-1)

T2 | Raymond RBI double (0-2)

T4 | Ellestad RBI single (0-3)

B4 | Peters RBI single (1-3)

B4 | Hopfauf reached on fielder's choice, Pederson scored (2-3)

B4 | Dumlao RBI single (3-3)

B4 | Joten RBI single (4-3)

B4 | Castaneda two RBI single (6-3)

T5 | Miller scored on passed ball (6-4)

T5 | Raymond reached on error, Grad and Klein scored (6-6)

T6 | Klein RBI single (6-7)

B6 | Pederson three run home run (9-7)

T7 | Jacobson RBI double (9-8)

UND will take on South Dakota State next weekend, location is planned for Grand Forks but follow fightinghawks.com and @UNDSoftball on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.