MIAMI – The North Dakota softball team dropped two games on Friday on the first day of the FIU Classic at Florida International University. In game one, the Fighting Hawks fell 4-3 to Illinois-Chicago and in game two 8-4 to Seton Hall.
Game One
Early on the Fighting Hawks had chances to score as Brooklyn Morris reached second base in the top of the first and then in the second runners were on first and second with two outs and Katelyn Neumayer was thrown out digging for home plate. Morris reached second again in the top of the third but was stranded a second time.
Jackie Albrecht did not allow a baserunner until the third inning, but kept the Flames off the board. In the top of the fourth UND struck for three runs—led off by a single from Izzy Haslett. Neumayer later reached on an error and it allowed Haslett to score while Neumayer went to second on the throw. Taya Hopfauf followed with a double to left center that brought Neumayer in and made it 2-0. Angie Dumlao singled and moved Hopfauf to third. Later with two outs Morris drove Hopfauf in with a single to left to make it 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth a throw home from Hopfauf with two outs got the runner at the plate to keep the shutout intact. It remained a 3-0 game headed into the bottom of the seventh, when the Flames struck for four runs (two charged to Albrecht, two to Makaela Carr) to end the game.
Miranda Gomez got the win while Carr took the loss.
Game Two
Seton Hall got an early lead with an RBI single to left field, but Camryn Lasota got out of the inning only allowing the single run and leaving the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the second, Neumayer walked on four pitches then advanced to second and third on wild pitches. Cassie Castaneda followed with a walk to put runners on the corners and Katie Joten followed by reaching on a fielder's choice and tying the game as Neumayer came in to score. Dumlao moved runners to second and third with a sac bunt, then Hopfauf reached on an error to bring Castaneda in to score. Morris followed with a single to left that brought Joten and Hopfauf in to score and made it 4-1.
Over the rest of the game, SHU scored seven unanswered runs to take the game.
Sydney Babik got the win while Lasota took the loss.
The Fighting Hawks will be back in action tomorrow morning at 11:30 taking on host Florida International, then will play in the afternoon, opponent and time still TBD.
Postgame Notes
· Morris got three hits in six at bats with three RBIs on the day.
· Hopfauf went 3-3 against UIC.
· Albrecht struck out five batters in six innings of work in game one, allowing only five hits.
· Neumayer picked up a hit in both games.
How It Happened
Game One
T4- UND 3, UIC 0
B7- UIC 4, UND 3
Game Two
T1- SHU 1, UND 0
B2- UND 4, SHU 1
T3- UND 4, SHU 3
T4- UND 4, SHU 4
T5- SHU 5, UND 4
T6- SHU 8, UND 4
For more information on North Dakota softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.
