GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball took the loss on Saturday evening, falling to South Dakota by a score of 12-1 in five innings from Albrecht Field. NoDak drops to 24-17 and 1-6 in Summit League play while the Coyotes improve to 11-29-1 and 3-7 in the conference.
NoDak fell behind from the jump, surrendering five runs in the top of the first inning to put itself in a 5-0 deficit. UND was outhit 12-5 in the game, led by
Camryn Lasota who went 2-for-3 at the plate, headlined by a double off the centerfield wall.
Tyler Price,
Taya Hopfauf and Katelyn Neumeyer each logged a hit, with Neumeyer recording the lone RBI. UND left a total of eight runners on base compared to seven from the Coyotes, hitting just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Unity Nelson picked up the loss in the circle, falling to 9-7 on the season. She tossed 2.0 innings and allowed eight runs (two earned), giving up six hits and two walks.
Tehya Armstrong came in for relief, throwing the final 3.0 innings, giving up four earned runs and six hits, while walking and striking out one.
How It Happened
The Coyotes struck with five runs in the top of the first, with just one of them being earned to Nelson. Nelson started the game off with an error, before forcing Ella McGee to ground into a 1-6 fielders choice. Brooke Carey from USD then singled, which was followed by a two-run double from Sara Iburg, giving the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.
The next batter, Delaney White reached on an error by
Aleksia Severson and Nelson walked the next hitter after that to walk in a run. Nelson hit Kiya Johnson with a pitch on the next at-bat, to make it 4-0, before Autumn Iverson reached on an infield single to give USD a 5-0 lead after the top of the first. SoDak sent 11 batters to the plate.
After Price and
Makenna Alexander made out to start the top of the second, the next three batters got on via hits, with Lasota and Hopfauf logging singles and Neumeyer hitting a double to center field. Lasota was able to score, cutting the deficit to 5-1.
Next,
Hailey Bethune drew a seven pitch walk to load the bases for
Jaedyn Valdez. Valdez also drew a seven-pitch at-bat, this one resulting in a flyout to right field, keeping the score at 5-1 after one.
The Coyotes tacked on one more run in the top of the 2nd, via a hit and an error, before scoring two in the top of the third. USD led 8-1 after three.
South Dakota blew things completely open in the top of the fourth, thanks to a pinch-hit two run homer from Allie Cromer to left center field, which made the score 11-1. The Coyotes would add on one more in the top of the fifth, taking the game, 12-1 in five innings.
UND will look to bounce back tomorrow at 3 p.m. against South Dakota in game two of the series. Coverage can be found on Midco Sports or the Summit League Network.
For more information on North Dakota Softball, follow on social media @UNDsoftball or visit FightingHawks.com.
