COLLEGE STATION, Texas--Maryssa McKenzie hit a game-winning double to lift North Dakota State to a 1-0 win over Wright State, and the Bison defeated Utah State 4-2 in the second game on Friday, March 12, during the first day of the Texas A&M Aggie Invitational at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Bison have won five straight.

North Dakota State (13-7) is scheduled to play Wright State (6-11) at 12:15 p.m., and No. 21/24-ranked Texas A&M (17-6) at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 13.

McKenzie hit a 3-1 pitch to the center field fence with two outs in the seventh inning to score Brea Konz from first base. Konz reached on a single during the previous at-bat.

North Dakota State was held without a hit until one out in the fifth when Konz singled through the left side. Laurel Pipkin had the other hit for the Bison. Wright State pitcher Melanie Heyne, who retired the first 13 batters she faced, allowed four hits overall, struck out four and issued no walks.

NDSU freshman Whitney Johnson (9-5) picked up her second shutout of the season. She allowed three hits, walked three and had two strikeouts.

Two-out hits were important in North Dakota State's victory over Utah State (8-6). The Bison rallied from a 2-1 deficit with two runs in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead for good.

With two outs, Nicole Rivera doubled to left field and scored on Elisa Victa's single. Victa then advanced to second and scored on Melissa Chmielewski's RBI single to right field to put NDSU ahead 3-2.

The Bison tacked on an insurance run in the fourth inning. Chmielewski led off the frame with a double, moved to third on Taylor Mortensen's sacrifice bunt and scored on a Utah State error.

Chmielewski, who went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks, led a group of four NDSU players with two hits. Rivera had a double and single, while Victa and Pipkin each added a pair of base hits.

Utah State was led by Joreigh Landers, who went 3 for 4, and the two-run single from Mandy Harmon in the top of the second inning. Harmon also picked up the loss, dropping to 3-2 on season. She walked seven and struck out two.

Sophomore Randi Parks (4-2) took advantage of the NDSU offense with her first complete game since the first week of the season. Parks scattered seven hits, struck out two and walked a pair. The Aggies advanced runners to second and third with two outs in the seventh inning, but she got a ground out to end the game.