TEMPE, Ariz.--North Dakota State University took advantage of several fielding miscues, a couple standout defensive plays and a pair of solid pitching performances to defeat Portland State University 2-1 and Cal State-Northridge 3-2 on Friday, Feb. 12, the first day of the Kajikawa Softball Classic played at the Tempe Sports Complex.

North Dakota State (2-0) is scheduled to play Ohio University at 11 a.m. (Central) and No. 6-ranked Arizona at 3 p.m. (Central) on Saturday, Feb.13. The Bison close out Kajikawa Classic action against Purdue University on Sunday, Feb. 14.

Not wasting any time in her first at-bat of the season, Melissa Chmielewski lined 2-2 pitch for a solo home run to center field and put NDSU ahead 1-0 to start the second inning against Portland State (1-1).

The Vikings rallied with an unearned run on a Bison fielding error in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1.

North Dakota State rallied with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Laurel Pipkin reached on an infield single and moved to second on Elisa Victa's base hit. Pipkin scored an unearned run taking advantage of a muffed PSU throw at first.

Randi Parks (1-0) retired the last eight batters she faced and relied on several alert defensive plays. Third baseman Brea Konz took away a double down left field line with one out in the sixth. Parks scattered three hits, issued no walks and struck out two.

Portland State's Amanda Bertrand limited NDSU to three hits. Bertrand struck out eight and walked two.

Cal State-Northridge jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three inning before the Bison rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Alexandria Alvarado had an RBI single in the first and Mikayla Thielges walk with the bases loaded chased home another for the Matadors in the third. 

Maryssa McKenzie led off the fifth inning with a single and moved to second when Lynn received a walk. With one out, Pipkin reached on a throwing error that chased home McKenzie and Lynn, and eventually allowed Pipkin to circle the bases.

Making her first collegiate start, NDSU freshman Whitney Johnson (1-0) struck out nine, walked five and allowed only two walks. Mia Pagano and Hannah Fraijo worked on the mound CSUN with Fraijo picking up the loss.