Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas--Krista Menke tossed a three-hitter as North Dakota State defeated Columbia University 6-1 on Sunday, Feb. 23, at Cougar Softball Stadium to complete the University of Houston Hilton Plaza Invite with a 5-0 record.

North Dakota State (9-5) is scheduled to play the University of Buffalo (8-3) at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28, in the opening game of the University of New Mexico Lobo Classic in Albuquerque.

Menke, a 5-foot-11 junior from Friend, Neb., settled down after a third inning home run to shut down Columbia (0-5). She struck out six and walked two to improve to 7-1. Menke went 4-0 at the Invite with a 1.15 ERA. She struck out 24, allowed 16 hits and walked nine over 24.1 innings.

Sophomore second baseman Cheyenne Garcia hit a home run down the left field line with two outs in the first inning to put the Bison ahead 1-0. It was her second home run of the season. Garcia finished the Invite hitting .533 with six RBI, five runs scored and three stolen bases.

Columbia answered in the top of the third with a lead-off home run from Liz Caggiano.

NDSU broke open the game with five runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Jenna Isbel and Brandi Enriquez each stroke RBI singles. Jackie Stifter laced a two-run double to left center and Alex Sobrero doubled home Stifter.

The Bison collected nine hits led by Sobrero and Garcia each with a pair.

Columbia used three pitchers with Brooke Darling (0-3) being tagged with the loss.