NORFOLK, Va. – The North Dakota softball team won two more games on Saturday from NSU softball field in Norfolk, Va., defeating Holy Cross, 3-1 and FDU, 6-1. The Hawks now sit at 16-8 on the season, winning seven-consecutive games, tying the longest streak since the 2018 season (7-game winning streak, Feb. 24 – March 3, 2018).
Game 1 UND 3, Holy Cross 1
The Hawks never trailed in the ball game, scoring three runs across the first five innings to get the job done.
Taya Hopfauf went 2-for-3 with an RBI, including a solo home run in the fifth inning, good for her third home run of the season. The hits battle was equal at 6-6, with
Makenna Alexander logging two hits, while
Katelyn Neumayer and Jaedyn Valdez each had one.
It was another gem in the circle for UND's pitchers, as
Tehya Armstrong picked up the win, improving to 4-2 on the year. She struck out a career-high eight batters, going 6.0 innings, allowing just one run and six hits, while walking two. Tegan Livesay came in for the save, throwing a scoreless seventh frame, good for her third save of the year.
How It Happened
NoDak struck first in the bottom of the third, when Neumayer drew a bases loaded walk, to drive in
Chloe Bethune, putting UND up 1-0. The Green and White struck again in the fourth, with Alexander roping a lead-off triple and brought home by a Valdez double, making it a 2-0 game after four.
Norh Dakota capitalized in the fifth, with a Hopfauf solo-shot to start the inning, making it a 3-0 ball game. That was all the Hawks staff would need. Armstrong went into the seventh inning and was relieved by Livesay, who sealed the deal for the 3-1 win.
Game 2 UND 6, FDU 1
Hopfauf went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs to lead the Hawks to a win in the second game of the day.
Chloe Bethune also added in a home run, as the Hawks manufactured eight hits.
Katelyn Neumayer registered her 100th career hit in the game, going 3-for-4 in the contest. Camyn Lasota chipped in with two hits and a walk, as the Hawks scored three runs in the first three innings.
Unity Nelson was dominant in the circle, striking out a career-high 12 batters, throwing her fifth complete game of the season. She tossed 7.0 innings, allowing just one run and four hits, while walking one. She is now 6-3 on the year, lowering her ERA to 2.85.
How It Happened
UND got the scoring going early, tacking on two runs in the top of the first, thanks to a two-run jack from Hopfauf, making it 2-0. The Hawks scored again in the third on an Alexander RBI, hit-by-pitch, to put them up 3-0.
FDU got a run in the bottom of the third, making it 3-1. Neither side would score over the next two innings, until
Chloe Bethune hit her second home run of the season in the top of the sixth, putting NoDak up 4-1.
Hopfauf clocked her second two-run bomb of the game in the top of the seventh for insurance, putting UND up 6-1. That would be the final, as Nelson did not allow a hit across the final four frames of the ball game.
North Dakota will be back in action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Holy Cross.
For more information on North Dakota Softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.
