LAKE CHARLES, La. – The North Dakota softball team fell 5-2 in the final game of the Cowgirl Classic II this weekend against the Niagara Purple Eagles.

Katie Joten started the game with a leadoff walk, then with one out stole second. With two outs, Mariah Peters hit a single to right to bring Joten in to score. Peters later stole second to move into scoring position but was unable to come in for a second run. Camryn Lasota kept the Purple Eagles off the board in the bottom of the frame, and had a chance for more in the second inning after Callie Honig was hit by a pitch and Joten walked. But Niagara got out of the inning with the game still 1-0.

From there, the Purple Eagles scored five unanswered runs—one in the bottom of the second, three in the bottom of the fourth and one more in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, four straight walks—drawn by Kimora Johnson, Joten, Hannah Thompson and Cassie Castaneda made it a 5-2 game and with one out the door was open for more but the Fighting Hawks could not bring another run in as Niagara got out of the jam to win.

Maggie Hickingbottom got the win while Lasota took the loss.

Postgame Notes 

·        Three pitchers—Lasota, Jackie Albrecht and Makaela Carr, got in the circle today.

·        NoDak drew eight walks in the game.

·        Peters and Thompson picked up hits for the Fighting Hawks.

·        UND dropped its seventh consecutive game.

How It Happened 

T1- UND 1, NU 0

B2- NU 1, UND 1

B4- NU 4, UND 1

B6- NU 5, UND 1

For more information on North Dakota softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.