MISSOULA, Mont. – The North Dakota softball team concluded its weekend series against Montana on Saturday, falling 9-3 in the final nonconference game of the season. Izzy Haslett went 2-2 with a run scored and an RBI while Katie Joten went 2-4 with an RBI.

A two out double in the bottom of the first put the Griz on the board first. In each of the first three innings the Fighting Hawks picked up a hit but were unable to get on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the third UM picked up another run on an RBI single to go up 2-0.

In the top of the fourth Taya Hopfauf walked and then stole second after she was in motion after what was thought to be ball four on Hannah Thompson but called strike three. The throw to second was not in time as Hopfauf got the stolen base. Haslett followed with a double to right center that brought Hopfauf in to half the lead. Mariah Peters followed with a single, Montana shortstop Riley Peschek made an errant throw from her knees that allowed Peters to take second base following the single and Haslett to tie the game.

Montana got back on top in the bottom of the fourth as Presley Jantzi hit a grand slam to make it 6-2 and then Pescheck hit an RBI single to put the Griz back in front 7-2. In the top of the fifth Katelyn Neumayer led off with a double to right center and then Joten followed with a two out single to left that brought Neumayer in to make it 7-3. In the bottom of the frame Montana got two more to cap off the scoring.

Rylee Rehbein got the win while Camryn Lasota took the loss.

The Fighting Hawks will begin conference play next week with a three-game set against South Dakota State starting on Friday at noon in Brookings.

Postgame Notes 

·        Angie Dumlao picked up a single to record five hits over the weekend and at least one in each game.

·        Hopfauf and Neumayer each had two extra base hits over the weekend—Hopfauf with a double and homerun and Neumayer with two doubles.

·        Hopfauf finished with four RBIs over the three-game set.

·        Dumlao moved her season batting average to .322, highest on the team.

How It Happened 

B1- UM 1, UND 0

B3- UM 2, UND 0

T4- UND 2, UM 2

B4- UM 7, UND 2

T5- UM 7, UND 3

B5- UM 9, UND 3

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