Box Score

URBANA, Ill. – The North Dakota State softball team (14-8) defeated the Saint Louis Billikens (10-9) in game one of the University of Illinois Fighting Illini Classic, 7-3, Friday afternoon, March 14, at Eichelberger Field.

The Bison are scheduled to continue play in the classic Saturday, March 15, with a 10:30 a.m. game against host Illinois and a 3 p.m. contest with Western Michigan.

Krista Menke pitched her tenth complete game of the season and matched her season-high with nine strikeouts, picking up the victory to move to 10-3 overall in the circle.

Amanda Grable went 2-for-3 with three RBI and hit her third home run of the season to lead the NDSU offensive attack.  

The Bison jumped out the a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Alex Sobrero scored on a SLU throwing error and Grable doubled, allowing Jenina Ortega and Logan Moreland to score. Jenna Isbel then smacked a single up the middle to advance Grable to third, who scored NDSU's fourth run of the inning on a Billiken passed ball the next at bat.

NDSU added another run in the bottom half of the second when Sobrero crossed home plate on a wild pitch, increasing the Bison advantage to 5-0.

The Bison didn't let up, plating two more runs in the bottom of the third on back-to-back round-trippers from Ortega and Grable to balloon the lead to 7-0.

SLU scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and another in the fifth to pull within 7-3, but Menke and the NDSU defense didn't allow a Saint Louis runner past second base the remainder of the game to lock up the victory.

Laney Kneib took the loss for Saint Louis, allowing seven hits and three earned runs while walking five and striking out one to fall to 4-3 on the season.