FARGO, N.D.--Courtney Cronin went 4 for 7 with a pair of home runs, five RBI and a complete game win as visiting IPFW defeated North Dakota State University by the scores of 9-3 and 4-3 in a Summit League softball doubleheader played on a cold and windy Friday, April 2, before 110 spectators at the Ellig Sports Complex.

North Dakota State (19-6, 4-4 Summit), which has lost four of its last five games, is scheduled to close out the three-game series with IPFW (18-10, 10-1 Summit) at noon Saturday, April 3.

Cronin struck out 12 batters in the opener against the Bison and also helped herself at the plate with a 2 for 4 performance with three RBI. She allowed eight hits and walked four to improve to 10-6 for IPFW.

The Mastodons jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning and chased out NDSU starter Whitney Johnson. Cronin's two-run single highlighted the frame.

Solo home runs by Rachel Staschuk in the fourth inning and Cronin in the fifth extended IPFW's lead to 5-0.

North Dakota State cut the deficit to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth on Nicole Rivera's run-scoring single up the middle.

However, IPFW put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh with four runs to go ahead 9-1. Cassie Wolfe laid down a squeeze bunt, while Stacey Swinford had a RBI single, Ava Hall doubled home another run and Kaylee Faurote's ground out brought the final.

The Mastodons had 11 hits overall. Sara Hopwood, Kristina Karpun, Staschuk and Hall each had two hits.

 Johnson (14-11) recorded the loss. Randi Parks pitched seven innings in relief and matched her career-high with seven strikeouts.

In the nightcap, IPFW scored three times in the third inning and took advantage of key hits with two outs. After North Dakota State turned one of its two double plays, Hopwood tripled down the right field line and scored on Karpun's double to center. Cronin then lifted a two-run home run to left field to make it 3-0.

NDSU cut the margin to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Elisa Victa singled up the middle, moved to second on an error and scored on Melissa Chmielewski's single inside the right field line.

However, IPFW scored an important run in the top of the sixth on Hall's single down the left field line to extend the lead to 4-1.

The Bison rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Chmielewski drew a walk to push across one run and a ground out by Richel Briones chased home another. However, IPFW second game starter Staschuk recorded one of her eight strikeouts to end the threat.

Victa went 3 for 3 with two runs scored to lead North Dakota State. The loss overshadowed several solid defensive plays by NDSU center fielder Taylor Lynn and Briones in right. Cronin finished 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI for the Mastodons.

Parks (5-5) recorded the loss for the Bison. She allowed seven hits, walked three and struck out one. Staschuk picked up her fifth win in six decisions for IPFW.