FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State defeated Western Illinois, 4-2, in a Summit League softball game played on a sunny Saturday, April 17, at the Ellig Sports Complex in front of 137 fans. The Bison took two of three from the Leathernecks to win the series.

North Dakota State (24-20, 9-6 Summit) is scheduled to host Southern Utah (8-32, 4-13 Summit) on April 23-24 at the Ellig Sports Complex.

Sophomore pitcher Randi Parks improved her record to 6-6 with a complete game.  She held Western Illinois (24-14, 10-2 Summit) to two runs on five hits with no walks.

Parks had plenty of help from the defense. Senior Taylor Lynn took away a home run in the fifth inning with a leaping grab over the center field fence. Right fielder Richel Briones came up with a diving catch of a line drive down the line in the sixth.

The Bison loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning, but WIU pitcher Kamren Ferguson (13-9) struck out two straight batters to end the inning scoreless. Ferguson picked up the loss and was relieved by Lori Pankratz in the third inning.

In the second inning,  redshirt junior catcher Maryssa McKenzie gave the Bison a 1-0 lead after hitting a solo home run, her third of the year. Western Illinois tied the game in the top of the third after Jamie Goss' double brought Julie DePolo home.

Senior Laurel Pipkin doubled to left field in the third inning. After sophomore Brea Konz was walked and sophomore Taylor Mortensen reached on a fielder's choice, McKenzie picked up her second RBI of the game when she was walked, bringing Pipkin home. 

With a 2-1 lead, the Bison retired the Leathernecks in order in the fourth and the fifth innings. Konz hit a double in the fifth inning to get the Bison bats going.  Mortensen then laced a RBI double to the outfield, scoring Konz.  After a strikeout, Briones singled and Mortensen came home to give the Bison a 4-1 lead.

DePolo hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth for the Leathernecks, but the comeback attempt fell short as the Bison defense held strong for the final two innings. DePolo and Goss both had a pair of hits.

Pipkin and Briones each had a two hits where the Bison held a 9-5 edge. Konz hit .667 (4-6) in the series with three walks, three doubles and a pair of RBI.