North Dakota State Wins Two of Three 1-0 Decisions at ISU's Wolfe Sycamore Classic

Saturday, March 5

Terre Haute, Ind.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State

5-4

Eastern Illinois

0-3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Eastern Illinois	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
North Dakota State	1	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	2	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Indiana State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
North Dakota State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	7	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	7	1

North Dakota State Wins Two of Three 1-0 Decisions at ISU's Wolfe Sycamore Classic

3/5/2005 11:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score 3

TERRE HAUTE, Ind.--North Dakota State University won two of three 1-0 decisions at the Wolfe Sycamore Classic, falling to Butler University, but defeating Eastern Illinois and host Indiana State University in eight innings in women's college softball on Saturday, March 5.

North Dakota State (6-4) is scheduled to play Northern Illinois University (4-2) at 11 a.m. and Butler (2-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 5, at Price Field as the round-robin tournament concludes.

"We've never had a day like this before," said North Dakota State head coach Darren Mueller of the three 1-0 decisions.

"All three of our pitchers did a good job and kept us in the game. Our defense did a great job today except for one inning."

The Bison bounced back from the opening game loss to Butler with back-to-back shutouts by junior college transfer Amber Garrett against Eastern Illinois and freshman Bekki Rasmussen over the Sycamores. NDSU didn't commit an error over the last 15 innings on Saturday.

North Dakota State spotted Garrett an 1-0 lead against Eastern Illinois in the first inning when lead-off hitter Heather Hyatt singled, moved to second on a Meghan Norris walk and advanced to third on Lynnae Foshag's sacrifice bunt. Hyatt scored on Aimee Enzler's fielder's choice.

However, the Bison only had two hits as the Panthers' Karyn Mackie surrendered only singles to Hyatt and Enzler. Mackie issued three walks and had no strikeouts.

Garrett, a junior from Pueblo, Colo., was up to the task. She scattered six hits and struck out 11 batters to earn her first NDSU win. It didn't come easy as Eastern Illinois (0-4) mounted a rally in the seventh. Garrett's 11th strikeout and a fly ball ended the threat.

Foshag, a sophomore left fielder from Missoula, Mont., scored the winning run on a wild pitch with two outs in the eighth against Indiana State (3-2). NDSU outhit the Sycamores 7-5 led by Ashley Leier's double and single and two singles from Hyatt, but stranded 10 runners on base.

Rasmussen improved to 2-1 with a five-hitter over eight innings. She worked out of trouble in the first, third and eighth innings as Indiana State had a runner on third with one out. However, Rasmussen had ISU hit the ball on the ground or record a strikeout to end the rallies. She walked one and struck out two.

North Dakota State made only one error in the three games and that came in the seventh inning against Butler. Amy Hyerczyk reached on the error and scored on Jess Stephens two-out single. That miscue was the first in 37 innings and six games for the Bison, which have three errors and .989 fielding percentage through the first 10 games.

It spoiled another solid performance for NDSU freshman Allison Bakke (3-3), who allowed seven hits, struck out eight and walked one. Butler's Nikki Naffziger limited the Bison to singles by Amy Hemingson, Erin Troup and Garrett. Naffziger walked four and struck out three.