GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team will be in Nebraska for the Big Red Classic this weekend, taking on Northern Colorado on Thursday and Saturday, with a game against hosts Nebraska on Friday. Following the tournament, the Fighting Hawks will play a doubleheader against Creighton on Sunday afternoon.
The game on Friday against the Cornhuskers will be televised on B1G+, while the two games against Northern Colorado in Lincoln will only have live stats. The two games in Omaha against the Blue Jays will be streamed on FloSoftball and also have live stats.
Johanna Rodriguez has taken over the team lead in batting average at .309, going 6-14 in the five games in California. She hit her first career homerun against Fairfield, which was a two run shot. Katie Joten has taken over the team lead with 11 runs scored and leads with a .432 on base percentage, while Izzy Haslett is tied with Rodriguez with 17 hits. Taya Hopfauf leads with 25 total bases.
In the circle Camryn Lasota leads the team with a 3.68 ERA, and has started nine games this season. Jackie Albrecht leads the team with 59.2 innings pitched is currently fifth in the Summit League with 54 strikeouts. She and Makaela Carr have each thrown four complete games this season.
Here's how each of this week's opponents have fared so far in 2024:
Northern Colorado (12-14)
The Bears went 4-1 last week at the Omaha Tournament, defeating Valparaiso, Kansas City twice and Rider before falling to host Omaha. On Tuesday the team went to Lincoln and defeated Nebraska and Maine. The team has won six of its last seven games after a 2-7 start to the season.
Ella Gonzales leads the team with a .375 batting average while Amailee Morales is close behind with a .372 average and a team high six homeruns. Morales also leads the team with a 1.213 OPS, 29 RBIs and .769 slugging percentage.
Erin Caviness leads the staff with a 3.29 ERA and has eight complete games in 11 starts with a 6-5 record.
Nebraska (12-12)
The Cornhuskers hosted Northern Colorado on Tuesday, losing 5-3 before beating Maine 10-0. Last weekend the team was at the Razorback Rumble in Fayetteville, Ark. and came away with wins over Northern Iowa, St. Francis and South Alabama while also falling to St. Francis.
Billie Andrews is hitting .444 to lead the team, with 32 this and 22 runs scored on the season. She also has hit nine homeruns and is slugging .958 while also leading the team with seven stolen bases.
Sarah Harness leads the tam with a 3.76 ERA and has one complete game in ten starts. Kaylin Kinney leads the team with 60 innings pitched.
Creighton (15-8)
The Blue Jays have started their Big East slate, winning two of three at St. John's over the weekend before winning two in home doubleheader against Rider on Wednesday.
Ella Dalton and Lily West are tied for the team lead with 14 runs scored, followed closely by Cayla Nielsen with 12 and Madeline Vejvoda with 11. Sydney Potter leads the team with five homeruns.
Natalia Puchino leads the pitching staff with a 1.54 ERA, and has thrown 68.1 innings with four complete games in eight starts.
For more information on North Dakota softball, follow us on social media @UNDsoftball and visit fightinghawks.com.
