Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

COLUMBIA, Mo.--North Dakota State University dropped a pair of games to No. 18-ranked Missouri 11-2 and Ball State University 6-4 on Saturday, March 22, at the Mizzou Tournament played at University Field.

NDSU (17-12) is scheduled to close out Mizzou Tournament play against Oklahoma State (18-10) at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 23.

Missouri (20-7) used an eight-run fourth inning to break the game open highlighted by Mackenzie Sykes grand slam home run. It was the fifth home run of the season for Sykes.

North Dakota State averted the shutout in the top of the fifth. Amanda Grable and Maritza Lopez-Portillo both belted RBI singles. Lopez-Portillo went 3 for 3 including a double

The Tigers pounded out 16 hits led by Emily Crane's 3 for 4 effort at the plate. Angela Randazzo contributed a home run and single for Missouri, while Sami Fagan, Kelsea Roth and Kirseten Mack also stroked two hits.

Casey Stangel (10-4) recorded the win for Missouri. Stangel allowed nine hits, struck out three and issued no walks. Tabby Bayers (3-6) and Katie Thun pitched for NDSU with Bayers picking up the loss.

Ball State (16-11) smacked four home runs in the opener. Hanne Stuedemann hit her second home run of the season in the top of the second inning to put the Cardinals ahead 1-0.

The Bison answered back when Cheyenne Garcia launched a two-run home run to center field to turn the tables. It was Garcia's third home run of the season. She went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Ball State regained the lead at 4-2 in the top of fourth on Lauren Schroeder's home run to right. The Cardinals widened the margin to 6-2 in the top of the sixth on home runs from Jessica Craft and Jennifer Gilbert.

North Dakota State cut the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth taking advantage of hits from Jenna Isbel, Jackie Stifter and Lopez-Portillo, along with a pair of Ball State errors.

The Bison put runners on second and third with no outs in the seventh, but the threat was snuffed out on a double play.

Bayers took the loss for NDSU. She allowed 10 hits, struck out three and walked two. Nicole Steinbach (6-5) earned the win for the Cardinals. Steinbach allowed six hits, walked five and struck out three.