Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

HOUSTON, Texas--Shortstop Logan Moreland launched North Dakota State's first grand slam since 2012 and pitcher Krista Menke won twice as the Bison defeated Nicholls State 3-1 and Columbia (N.Y.) University 9-4 on Friday, Feb. 21, during the first day of the University of Houston Hilton Plaza Invite played at Cougar Softball Stadium.

NDSU (6-5) is scheduled to play Nicholls State (4-8) at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, and then host Houston (5-1) at 7 p.m. The Bison close out tournament play against Columbia (0-1) at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 23.
 
Menke (5-1) and Nicholls State starter Jackie Johnson each allowed three hits in the first game pitchers duel. Both teams left five runners on base. Menke struck out nine and walked two, while Johnson fanned nine and walked four.

North Dakota State jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Jenina Ortega's home run to left center with two outs in the first inning. It was Ortega's second home run of the season.

Alert baserunning helped the Bison in pushing across two runs in the second frame and set a school single-inning record in the process. Moreland reached on a wild pitch, moved to third on Cheyenne Garcia's single and scored on Ortega's sacrifice fly. Garcia stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on Amanda Grable's sacrifice fly.

Nicholls State cut the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the fifth. Haley Stevenson's single, a Brooke Morris double and NDSU throwing error figured in the scoring.

North Dakota State scored eight times in the last three innings to rally from a 2-1 deficit against Columbia.

Garcia, a sophomore from Vista, Calif., slapped a two-run single up the middle to highlight a three-run fifth inning. Garcia went 2 for 4 with a pair of stolen bases and two RBI.

NDSU broke the game open in the sixth inning. Brandi Enriquez and Presley Glaser both singled, and Dani Renner reached on an error to set up Moreland. The 5-foot-8 sophomore from Woodland, Calif., hit the home run to right center. It was the first grand slam for a Bison player since Cristina Borek's against Oakland (Mich.) on March 24, 2012.  Moreland and Enriquez each had two hits.

Menke, a 5-11 junior righty from Friend, Neb., relieved starter Tabby Bayers with two outs in the fourth inning. Menke allowed four hits, struck out four and walked two over the final 3.1 innings to pick up the win. Columbia used three pitchers with Brooke Darling (0-1) picking up the loss.  Alix Cook led the Blue Lions with a double, single and two RBI.