GRAND FORKS, N.D. – North Dakota softball fell 4-2 to St. Thomas on Saturday afternoon from Albrecht Field as the Tommies completed the sweep of the Fighting Hawks behind a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning. UND moves to 24-22 overall and 7-8 in league play, while UST is now 26-16 and 9-3 in Summit League action.
 
For the third-straight game, UST jumped out with first inning run production striking for a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead through one after the Hawks sent four batters to the plate in the home half.
 
North Dakota threatened in the bottom of the second and placed runners at second and third. UND nearly tied the contest up as a sharply hit line drive off the bat of Brooklyn Morris was snared at first for the second out and the Hawks came away empty in the frame.
 
The Hawks broke through in the fourth after a smooth 6-4-3 double play ended the UST effort in the top half. Taya Hopfauf walked to lead off the frame and Angie Dumlao delivered a double into right centerfield to put runners at second and third. A 2-2 pitch to Makenna Alexander emptied the bases as she placed the pitch into the opposite field to tie the game at 2. UND put the go-ahead run at third but would leave her there in the frame.
 
Unity Nelson settled in the circle for North Dakota as the freshman arm scattered five hits and worked to toss around eight walks. Following Alexander tying it for the Hawks, Nelson worked a clean fifth and stranded the bases loaded in the sixth, before the Tommies broke through to retake the lead with the aforementioned two-run blast to left field in the seventh.
 
The Hawks managed just one base runner over the final three innings as Katie Joten singled into centerfield with two outs in the seventh.
 
The Hawks are set for a doubleheader on Wednesday, April  23 with neighboring Minnesota Crookston. The action commences at 5 p.m. from Albrecht Field. Live coverage links for the series are available at www.FightingHawks.com.
 
For more information on North Dakota softball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDsoftball.

Postgame Notes

• Nelson went the distance for the second time this season and the 7.0 IP marked a career-high outing
• Joten delivered her team-leading 13^th multi-hit game of the season; Angie Dumlao recorded her seventh
• Joten's hit streak and reached base safely streak moved to a current UND-best five games
• Alexander's two-RBI day is the second multi-RBI game of her freshman season
• UND turned a pair of double plays in a game for the third time this season