GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota softball team earned the series victory over North Dakota State on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 from Albrecht Field on Senior Day. UND improves to 27-22, setting a new program record for most wins in a single season. The Bison drop to 24-22 and 8-7 in Summit League play.

Tegan Livesay threw her first career no-hitter and second-straight complete game shutout. The Junior was masterful, striking out five and walking six across seven shutout innings. She threw 123 pitches in her 14th complete game of the season. She has now thrown 14-straight innings of scoreless softball.

UND did all of its scoring in the fourth inning, totaling five hits on the afternoon. The runs came via Hailey and Chloe Bethune RBI singles with Jaedyn Valdez leading the charge overall, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Taya Hopfauf also recorded a hit in the win.

How It Happened
Livesay stranded one of her six base runners for the game in the top of the first, working around a leadoff walk. Amai Hanta got to third base on a stolen base and a passed ball with one out, but Livesay got the next two batters to popout and groundout, sending it to the bottom of the first.

The Hawks went down in order in the bottom of the first while Livesay worked around two walks in the top of the second to keep the score tied at 0-0.

UND left two stranded in the bottom of the second, started by a one-out double from Valdez. She advanced to third on a long fly ball from Chloe Bethune before Camryn Lasota drew a walk. With runners on the corners, Hailey Bethune flew out to centerfield to end the frame.

Following a clean third inning and top of the fourth, UND did all the damage that was needed in the bottom of the fourth. Hopfauf led it off with a single to start and two batters later Valdez singled to right, moving Hopfauf to third base, putting runners on the corners with one out.

Chloe Bethune got Hopfauf home from third with a single to right field, putting UND up 1-0. Following an out by Lasota, Hailey Bethune tacked on one more run with a two-out RBI single that scored Valdez from second base, giving NoDak the 2-0 lead after four.

That was plenty for Livesay as the ace did her thing over the final three innings. She struck out one across the remainder of the game, leaving a Bison player stranded in the top of the seventh to secure the no-hitter. UND took the series victory, winning game three, 2-0.

The Hawks will return to the diamond this coming Thursday for a three-game series at St. Thomas. Coverage can be found on Midco Sports Plus.

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