KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The North Dakota softball team picked up its sixth run-rule victory of the season, defeating Kansas City by a score of 8-0 in six innings on Saturday afternoon from Kansas City Urban Youth Academy. The Hawks improve to 23-15 and 1-4 in the Summit League, as Kansas City falls to 13-22 and 4-7 in conference play.

NoDak bounced back in a major way, roping eight hits on the day compared to three from the Roos. Brooklyn Morris (nine hitter) and Camryn Lasota (leadoff hitter) each manufactured two hits, both going 2-for-3, with Lasota driving in an RBI. Jaedyn Valdez, Taya Hopfauf, Katelyn Neumayer and Chloe Bethune each recorded one hit, with Valdez, Neumayer, Hopfauf, Aleksia Severson and Makenna Alexander totaling an RBI.

Tegan Livesay picked up her 10th win in the circle, tossing her 10th complete game, lowering her ERA this season to 2.92. The junior allowed just three hits over 6.0 scoreless innings, while walking two and striking out two. It was her second complete game shutout of the season.

How It Happened
UND struck first in the top of the first, started by a leadoff single from Lasota. Following a Severson lineout, Lasota stolen base and Valdez foul out that got Lasota to third base, Hopfauf came to the plate with two outs. She reached on an error by the shortstop to bring home Lasota, giving NoDak a 1-0 advantage.

The next real scoring threat in the contest came in the bottom of the 4th when the Roos had two runners on with two outs, following a hit by pitch and a single. Livesay got Mia Corres to ground into a fielders choice, ending the frame.

UND blew the game open in the top of the fifth, logging five runs on four hits. The first three runners of the inning all got on, with Hailey Bethune walking, followed by singles from Chloe Bethune and Morris to load the bases for Lasota.

The leadoff hitter just missed a grand slam, sending a deep fly ball to left field, that was caught at the fence. It ended up being a sac fly, putting North Dakota up 2-0.

Severson reached on a fielders choice, which reloaded the bases with Valdez coming to the plate. The freshman lofted a single to right field, driving in Chloe Bethune to open the lead to 3-0. Hopfauf then reached  on a fielders choice, bringing home Morris to make it 4-0, which was then continued by Neumayer who knocked an RBI single to left field. NoDak took a 5-0 lead with the bases loaded and one out in the inning.

The next batter was Alexander, who drew an RBI walk, opening the lead up to 6-0. 11 Fighting Hawks came to hit in the inning as UND took the six-run cushion into the bottom of the fifth.

Kansas City had two runners on base in the bottom of the frame, which Livesay worked around. She allowed just six base runners the whole game, getting Megan Johnston to groundout to keep the runners stranded.

North Dakota added two more runs in the top of the sixth on three hits. Morris and Bethune each logged singles to start the inning and moved up bases on a wild pitch, giving the Hawks runners on second and third base with zero outs.

Severson knocked an RBI sac fly, bringing home Morris to make it 7-0. Following a Valdez strikeout, Hopfauf recorded an RBI single, bringing home pinch runner, Tyler price from second base to put NoDak up 8-0 headed into the bottom of the sixth.

Livesay sat down the Roos in order in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 8-0 victory. Game three of the series will take place tomorrow at 11 a.m. on the Summit League Network.

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