SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--Freshman Whitney Johnson struck out 13 in a 2-0 win over host UC Santa Barbara and senior Melissa Chmielewski hit a grand slam and broke her school record with eight RBI in the 10-3 win over Drexel University on Thursday, Feb. 25, during the first day of the Gaucho Classic at Campus Diamond.

North Dakota State (7-5) is scheduled to play Memphis (5-3) at 5:15 p.m. (Central) Friday, Feb. 26. The Bison close out tournament play against Wisconsin and UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Feb. 27.

Johnson struck out a season-high 13 batters against the host Gauchos (4-9). She limited UC Santa Barbara to a Jessica Ziegler one-out single in the third inning. It was an efficient outing for Johnson, who threw only 83 pitches including 49 for strikes and walked four batters.

Taylor Mortensen hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, with one out in the fourth inning to supply all the offense the Bison would need. Mortensen went 2 for 2 and also drew a walk. NDSU finished with a pair of hits.

North Dakota State rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the first inning and explode past Drexel (2-4).

Chmielewski hit her second grand slam of the season and fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 9-3. She went 3 for 4 with eight RBI, breaking her own record of seven set against Northern Illinois on Feb. 11, 2007.

The Bison scored three times in the second inning to regain the upperhand at 5-3. Elisa Victa knocked in one run, while Chmielewski belted a two-run double.

North Dakota State outhit Drexel 15-4. Nicole Rivera, Victa and Chmielewski each had three hits, while Laurel Pipkin and Taylor Lynn each added two. Maryssa McKenzie stroked a double, and Vita and Rivera both scored three runs.

Johnson picked up the win in 6.2 innings of relief to improve to 5-3. She struck out 11, walked three and allowed just one hit.