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URBANA, Ill.--North Dakota State scored six times in the seventh inning to stun host University Illinois 7-4, but fell to Western Michigan University 3-2 as the Bison split two games played Saturday, March 15, in the FIghting Illini Classic at Eichelberger Field.

NDSU (15-9) is scheduled to play Southeast Missouri State (5-8) in a single-game at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at Cape Girardeau, Mo. The Bison play Ball State (14-7) in the opener of the Mizzou Tournament in Columbia.

The Bison trailed 4-1 against the host Illini (14-8) headed into the top of the seventh inning, but sophomore Jenna Isbel got things started off on the right foot with a lead-off home run to right center. Isbel, who hit her second home run of the season, was the first of 10 batters in the frame.

Brandi Enriquez was hit by pitch and moved to second on a single from Jackie Stifter. Alex Sobrero then launched a 3-2 pitch for a three-run home run to left field to put NDSU ahead 5-4. Sobrero went 3 for 4 including a double and her second home run of the season. She had three RBI and two runs scored.

Logan Moreland followed with a single through the left side, Cheyenne Garcia reached on a fielder's choice and Jenina Ortega was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Amanda Grable delivered a two-run single up the middle to extend the lead to 7-4. Moreland

North Dakota State pitcher Tabby Bayers (3-4) retired Illinois 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to close out an impressive relief performance. Bayers struck out four, allowed three hits and walked two in 4.2 innings pitched after taking over for starter Krista Menke in the third inning.

Illinois jumped out on top 1-0 in the first inning on Allie  Bauch's lead-off home run, her third of the season. The Fighting Illini extended the led to 3-0 in the second. Jenna Mychko led off the inning with a home run to center, while Bauch added a RBI single.

While the Bison cut the deficit to 3-1 in the top of third on Garcia's run-scoring single, Illinois tacked on a run in the bottom of the inning on Mychko's base hit. Bauch and Mychko combined for five hits in eight at-bats, four RBI and two runs scored.

Shelese Arnold and Brandi Needham (8-3) pitched for Illinois with Needham picking up the loss. The pair combined to allow 10 hits, strike out three and walk one.

In the nightcap, Sabrina Gamboa hit a two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the third inning to provide the spark for Western Michigan (8-18) Jenny Rohn's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth extended the lead to 3-0 for the Broncos. Rohn went 2 for 4 and also scored on Gamboa's long ball.

North Dakota State again made things interesting in the top of the seventh. Enriquez singled, scampered to third on an error and scored on Sobrero's ground out. Pinch-runner Presley Glaser scored on Garcia's two-out single.

The Bison threat was ended by Western Michigan reliever Allyson Kus, who allowed two hits, a pair of unearned runs and struck out two in 2.2 innings of work to earn her second save of the season. Kus worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning. Erin Binkowski (2-8) earned the win.

Bayers was tagged with the loss. She allowed six hits, struck out six and walked three. Stifter led NDSU with two hits.