GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team opened up the home season on Wednesday evening, defeating Dakota State, 9-0 and 8-0, both in five innings from Albrecht Field. UND improves to 22-11 on the season.

North Dakota executed at the plate and in the circle, allowing just one hit across 10.0 innings of play. Tehya Armstrong tossed a no-hitter in game two, the first NoDak no-hitter since Feb. 19, 2021 when Jannay Jones threw one against Southern University. The Hawks struck out 20 batters on the day.

Makenna Alexander and Chloe Bethune each tanked home runs, helping the Fighting Hawks secure two run-rule victories.

Game one – UND 9, DSU 0 (F5 Innings)
UND scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, securing seven hits compared to one from the Trojans.

Aleksia Severson and Hailey Bethune each had two hits, as Bethune recorded three RBIs in the ball game. Taya Hopfauf, Katelyn Neumayer and Alexander each logged a hit, with Alexander totaling three RBIs.

Unity Nelson and Tegan Livesay were dynamite in the circle, with Nelson going the first 3.2 innings, striking out six and giving up just one hit, while walking three. Livesay went the final 1.1 innings, striking out all four batters and allowing zero baserunners. Nelson improved to 8-4 on the season.

How It Happened
Hailey Bethune got things going, with a two-out RBI single, which scored Taya Hopfauf from second base, putting the Hawks up 1-0. Alexander topped that, hitting a three-run home run to left field on the next at-bat, giving NoDak a 4-0 lead after one.

North Dakota struck with three more in the second, first on a Severson RBI single, which brought in Brooklyn Morris, making it 5-0. Hailey Bethune tallied two more RBIs, with a single to left field, bringing in Camryn Lasota and Severson. UND led, 7-0.

In the bottom of the third, Morris reached on an error by the shortstop with two outs. She then stole second and advanced home on an error by the shortstop, single-handedly getting UND a run to make it 8-0.

In the fourth, Severson led off the innings with a bloop-double. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch and later was driven in by Hopfauf on an RBI groundout, to put the Hawks up 9-0. That would be the final, as UND cruised to a game one victory.

Game two – UND 8, DSU 0 (F5 Innings)
Game two was another impressive showing by the Fighting Hawks, as Tehya Armstrong was dominant in the circle. The sophomore logged a no-hitter, going 5.0 innings with 10 strikeouts and just two walks. She is now 5-3 on the season.

UND had six hits in the game, all by six different players. Arianna Robillard, Taya Hopfauf, Hailey Bethune, Chloe Bethune, Jaedyn Valdez and Brooklyn House all recorded hits, while House had three RBIs. Chloe Bethune nuked a home run in the fourth inning, good for her third of the season.

How It Happened
The Hawks didn't strike until the bottom of the third inning on two hits. Severson drew a one-out walk and proceeded to steal second base. She was driven home by Hopfauf to give UND a 1-0 lead.
Neumayer reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, which was followed by her and Hopfauf being driven in via a Hailey Bethune double, giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead.

North Dakota tacked on five runs in the fourth inning on three hits, jumpstarted by Chloe Bethune's opposite field home run, to put the Hawks up 4-0.

Following outs made by Alaina Foreman and Brooklyn Hofer, Robillard connected on a triple to the right-center gap. She then scored on a wild pitch/walk to Grayce Beck, putting UND up 5-0. Addyson Schlake and Hailey Bethune each followed with walks to load the bases, when House blew the game open with a three-RBI double. NoDak took a commanding 8-0 lead.

Armstrong sat the Trojans down in the top of the fifth, striking out the last batter of the game to secure the no-hitter. NoDak would sweep the doubleheader, taking game two by a score of 8-0.

The Hawks will begin Summit League play this weekend, with three games against South Dakota State. The contests are set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Brookings.

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