FORT WAYNE, Ind.--Melissa Chmielewski went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBI as North Dakota State University exploded past IPFW 8-1 in a Summit League women's softball game played Saturday, April 25, at the IPFW Softball Field. The Bison swept the three-game league series.

North Dakota State (28-16, 15-3 Summit) is scheduled to host South Dakota State (9-36, 6-12 Summit) in a Summit  League three-game series Tuesday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 29, at the Ellig Sports Complex. NDSU and SDSU play a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday and a 3 p.m. single-game Wednesday. The Bison trail Western Illinois (25-17, 15-2 Summit) by a half-game in the league standings.

Chmielewski sparked NDSU's 14-hit offense and hit a two-run home run in the first inning to put the Bison on the scoreboard. It was her eighth of the season.

IPFW (14-21, 9-10 Summit) cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first. Kaylee Faurote stroked a lead-off double, moved to third on an error and scored on Cassie Wolfe's sacrifice fly.

North Dakota State extended the lead to 5-1 in the top of the second inning. Breanna Konz, Nicole Rivera and Laurel Pipkin led off the frame with three straight singles. With two outs, Elisa Victa collected one RBI and Chmielewski knocked in a pair with key base hits.

NDSU took advantage of an alert defensive play to keep the Mastodons off the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Center fielder Taylor Lynn teamed up with shortstop Rivera and catcher Kelly Cantrell to throw out a baserunner at the plate.

The Bison tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh inning using four hits including a Lynn infield RBI single, Rivera's sacrifice fly and a IPFW error. Rivera went 3 for 3, while Victa, Konz and Lynn each had two hits.

Kim Westendorf (8-4) recorded the win for North Dakota State, her sixth without a loss in league play. She allowed only three hits, walked one and struck out one. Amanda Olender and Courtney Cronin pitched for IPFW with Olender picking up the loss.