Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

AUBURN, Ala.--North Dakota State University defeated Morehead State (Ky.) 10-3, but fell to host Auburn University 11-3 in six innings on a chilly Friday, Feb. 7, during the first day of the Plainsman Invitational played at Jane B. Moore Field.

North Dakota State (1-1) is scheduled to play Tennessee Tech (0-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. The Bison close out tournament play against Notre Dame (0-0) at 1 p.m. The Fighting Irish and the Golden Eagles play at 9 a.m.

Maritza Lopez-Portillo went 2 for 3 with three RBI, a double and sacrifice fly to lead a group of five Bison players with a pair of hits. NDSU scored in five of six at-bats including three runs in the first and the sixth innings.

Cheyenne Garcia, who went 2 for 3 with three runs scored, opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with an infield RBI single. Amanda Grable lifted a sacrifice fly, while Lopez-Portillo drilled a double to left center.

Alex Sobrero led off the sixth with a home run to right field to extend the lead to 8-3, while Jenina Ortega had a run-scoring single to right and Lopez-Portillo closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly. Logan Moreland, Sobrero and Ortega all finished with two hits.

Tabby Bayers (1-0) worked the first five innings to pick up the win. Bayers struck out eight and walked three. Krista Menke finished the final two innings to pick up the save. Menke worked out of a bases loaded jam with no outs in the sixth and finished with three strikeouts.

Stephanie Etter had two hits to lead the Eagles (0-2). MSU used three pitchers with Tanna Seuferer (1-0) picking up the loss.

Auburn (1-0-1) used a five-run fifth inning to break open the second game against North Dakota State. The Bison pushed across runs in the first two innings, but the War Eagles rallied back twice before exploding.

Branndi Melero went 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBI to lead Auburn's 13-hit offense. Emily Carosone, Morgan Estell and Kasey Cooper all had three hits as the top four batters in the lineup went a collective 11 for 16 with seven runs scored and nine RBI.

Marcy Harper was credited for the win for Auburn.

Menke (0-1), Bayers and Katie Thun pitched for NDSU with Menke picking up the loss.

Garcia led the Bison with a triple and RBI, while Grable added a run-scoring single.