LAKE CHARLES, La. – The North Dakota softball team dropped two games on Friday on the first day of the Cowgirl Classic II at McNeese State. NoDak fell 2-0 to Lamar in nine innings in game one, followed by a 3-0 loss to hosts McNeese in game two.
Game One
Both starters threw all nine innings in a game that needed two extra innings to determine a winner. Both pitchers got out of jams at certain points in the game.
In the third inning UND threatened after Taya Hopfauf got a leadoff double and then moved to third on a sac bunt by Brooklyn Morris. But she got stranded on third base, along with Izzy Haslett on first base. In the top of the fourth, Lamar had the bases loaded but Jackie Albrecht got two strikeouts to get out of the inning unscathed.
From there, both pitchers controlled the game until with one out in the top of the ninth Lamar hit a two run home run that would be the only scoring play of the game.
Emma Wardlaw got the win while Albrecht took the loss.
Game Two
Katie Joten singled in her first plate appearance, then reached on an error in the third but was unable to advance either time. Johanna Rodriguez singled in the fourth, Kaycee Hayes came in as a pinch runner but also was unable to move into scoring position. Rodriguez singled in the top of the seventh, but once again NoDak could not move a runner into scoring position.
Both starters controlled the game once again, with Lindsay Davis and Makaela Carr both throwing complete games. MSU got runs across in the first, fifth and sixth innings to put three runs on the board.
Davis got the win while Carr took the loss.
The Fighting Hawks will wrap up the Cowgirl Classic II with a game against Niagara starting at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
Postgame Notes
· Albrecht pitched a new career high with nine innings, and first time over seven innings since 2022 against St. Mary's.
· Albrecht set a new career high with ten strikeouts.
· Carr pitched a season high six innings in game two.
· Haslett got two hits in game one, while Rodriguez got two hits in game two.
How It Happened
Game One
T9- LU 2, UND 0
Game Two
B1- MSU 1, UND 0
B5- MSU 2, UND 0
B6- MSU 3, UND 0
For more information on North Dakota softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.