FARGO, N.D.--Randi Parks threw her second shutout of the season as North Dakota State defeated South Dakota 3-0 to gain a split in a non-league softball doubleheader played Tuesday, April 27, before 97 fans at the Ellig Sports Complex. Mel Johnson tossed a shutout in USD's 1-0 game one win.

North Dakota State (27-22, 11-7 Summit) is scheduled to host UMKC (19-24, 9-8 Summit) in a 1 p.m. Summit League doubleheader Saturday, May 1, at the Ellig Sports Complex. The teams  conclude the three-game series with a single-game at noon Sunday, May 2. The series was moved from Friday and Saturday due to forecasted rain in the region.

Parks, a sophomore from Boise, Idaho, fashioned a three-hitter behind an alert defense. She took part as the Bison turned a key double play in the fourth inning. Shortstop Nicole Rivera and third baseman Brea Konz also had standout plays. Parks (7-6) struck out two and issued no walks.

NDSU catcher Maryssa McKenzie picked off one baserunner in the third inning and then threw out another attempting to steal in the fifth frame.

McKenzie put the Bison ahead 1-0 with one out in the second inning with a solo home to left field. It was her fifth home run of the season and her second over the past three games.

The Bison extended the lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning. Cristina Borek walked, moved to second on a Konz sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on Taylor Lynn's single. Borek scored on Taylor Mortensen's sacrifice fly to left.

North Dakota State made it 3-0 in the fifth. Laurel Pipkin reached on a two-out single to center and scored on Borek's single down the left field line.

South Dakota (15-28-1) received two hits from Callie Roan. Erica Denney (1-6) and Melissa Blackburn pitched for the Coyotes with Denney recording the loss.

North Dakota State outhit USD 7-1 in the first game, but the Coyotes' lone hit was a big one -- Mel Johnson's solo blast over the right field fence to lead off the fifth inning. Lynn led NDSU with two hits.

Johnson, who improved to 12-12 on the mound, worked ahead in the count and kept out of jams during the opener. She allowed no extra base hits as the Bison stranded eight runners.

The Johnson homer and shutout overshadowed a one-hitter from NDSU freshman Whitney Johnson, who had 12 strikeouts and no walks in dropping to 20-16. It was her fourth one-hitter and 10th double-figure strikeout game of the season.