SHREVEPORT, La.--Whitney Johnson pitched a pair of complete games and struck out 19 as North Dakota State defeated Centenary College by the scores of 7-2 and 4-2 in a Summit League softball doubleheader played Friday, March 19, at the CC Softball Complex.

North Dakota State (2-0 Summit, 17-12) plays Centenary (2-4 Summit, 8-13) at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, to conclude the three-game series.

In the opener, North Dakota State bolted out of the gate with three runs in the first inning. Richel Briones knocked in two runs with a two-run double down the right field line. Briones scored on Maryssa McKenzie's RBI single up the middle.

The Ladies cut the deficit to 3-2 by scoring single runs in the first and second innings. An NDSU error and Kaylin Harris sacrifice fly led to the run in the first. Caitlin Cavarra had Centenary's only hit, a single, to lead off the second inning. Cavarra moved to second on a walk, stole third and scored on a passed ball.

Laurel Pipkin, who went 3 for 4 with two RBI, figured into the Bison scoring in the fourth and fifth frames. Pipkin led off the fourth with a single, advanced to second on an error and scored on Nicole Rivera's double to center field to put NDSU ahead 4-2.

North Dakota State extened the lead to 7-2 in the fifth. With two outs, Becca Gift stroked a run-scoring single and Pipkin belted a double to center to collect two RBI. The Bison had 13 hits as Elisa Victa went 3 for 3 and Taylor Mortensen added two hits.

Johnson (12-8) retired the last 17 batters she faced in order. She struck out nine and walked three. Courtney Avery (0-3) and Regina Salvatore pitched for Centenary with Avery recording the loss.

North Dakota State rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to win the second game. Rivera doubled to lead off the frame and moved to third on a Victa sacrifice bunt. Rivera scored on a wild pitch following intentional walks to Melissa Chmielewski and Brea Konz. Chmielewski scored on a Mortensen sacrifice fly.

Centenary started a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Sara Dornelas doubled to start things off, but was thrown out by NDSU catcher Maryssa McKenzie attempting to steal. Johnson recored her 10th strikeout of the game and then got a fly out to end the game.

Johnson reached double-figures in strikeouts for the fifth time this season. She scattered five hits and walked two. Dornelas and Lauren Highsmith (1-1) pitched for the Ladies with Highsmith picking up the loss.

Chmielewski hit her a sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field in the third inning to put the Bison ahead 2-1. Taylor Lynn, Chmielewski and Rivera each had two hits for NDSU, which outhit Centenary 9-3. The Ladies tied the game in the bottom of the sixth using a Bonnie Matak triple and Allison Shepperd single to plate the run.