FARGO, N.D.--Melissa Chmielewski went 2 for 4 with a home run as North Dakota State defeated Western Illinois 7-4 in the opener, while the Fighting Leathernecks hit a pair of home runs late to win the second game 4-2 in a Summit League softball doubleheader played Friday, April 16, before 87 spectators at the Ellig Sports Complex.

North Dakota State (23-20, 8-6 Summit) and league-leading Western Illinois (24-13, 10-1 Summit) are scheduled to complete the three-game series at noon Saturday, April 17.

The Bison responded to a 1-0 deficit with a pair of runs in the first inning. Chmielewski doubled to deep center, moved to third on an Elisa Victa sacrifice bunt and scored on a passed ball when Laurel Pipkin struck out. Pipkin went to third on a Brea Konz double down the left field line and scored on an error.

Western Illinois was limited to three hits, but all three were solo home runs. The first came off the bat of Jamie Goss with one out in the third to tie the score at 2-2. The Fighting Leathernecks hit five homers in the doubleheader.

North Dakota State bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead. Pipkin walked and scored on Konz' second double of the game, this one to right center. Konz advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

Chmielewski drilled her eighth home run of the season with one out in the fourth inning to put the Bison ahead 5-2. WIU answered with Julie DePolo's solo shot in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3.

However, the Bison were quick to respond in the bottom of the fifth. Becca Gift delivered a one-out single up the middle to score Pipkin for the third time. Gift then scored on a Richel Briones two-out base hit up the middle to extend the lead to 7-3.

Western Illinois' Lori Pankratz homered to center with one out to make the final.

Whitney Johnson (18-14) recorded the win. Johnson struck out 10 batters to reach double-figure strikeouts for the ninth time this season. She issued three walks. Kamren Ferguson (13-8) picked up the loss. Ferguson allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked two. 

Lori Pankratz (8-4) struck out 10 and scattered six hits to lift Western Ilinois in the second game. Pankratz also went 3 for 4 as WIU collected 11 hits overall.

Western Illinois took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Nikki Marinec reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on DePolo's double to left field.

North Dakota State rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Nicole Rivera led off with a single, stole second and scored on a Konz single. Konz advanced to second on an error and scored on Maryssa McKenzie's single to right center.

The lead was shortlived. Lauren Furgala hit a two-run homer to left field to put WIU ahead 3-2. Beth Golitko followed with a solo shot to left center to extend the lead to 4-2. Furgala, Golitko, Goss and DePolo each had two hits.

Pankratz retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to record the win. Johnson recorded the loss for NDSU. She worked out of bases loaded jams in the second and fifth innings. Johnson struck out seven and walked two.