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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.--Cheyenne Garcia hit a home run in the top of the ninth to lead North Dakota State University to a 2-1 win in nine innings over host IUPUI in the opener, then exploded past the Jaguars with a seven-run seventh for an 11-4 victory in the nightcap in a Summit League doubleheader played Friday, March 28, at the IUPUI Softball Complex.

NDSU (19-12, 2-0 SL) is scheduled to close out the three-game league series against IUPUI (11-14, 1-4 SL) at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29.

Garcia, a 4-foot-11 sophomore from Vista, Calif., hit a solo home run to left field with one out to put the Bison ahead 2-1 in the top of the ninth inning. Garcia has hit a home run in four of the last six games and leads the team with five.

Krista Menke (14-4) retired IUPUI in order in the bottom of the ninth inning to clinch the win. Menke, who was the game two winner in relief, finished with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Both Garcia and Menke were key figures in getting North Dakota State to extra innings in the bottom of the seventh. The Jaguars loaded the bases with no outs to start the frame. Garcia threw out the baserunner at the plate, then Menke recorded her eighth and ninth strikeouts.

IUPUI took the lead at 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning on Eryn Dillon's first home run of the season.

NDSU tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth. Jackie Stifter was hit by pitch, moved to second on a ground out and scored on Logan Moreland's single through the left side.

It was a tough loss for IUPUI starter Jocelyn Oppenhuis (3-7), who struck out nine, scattered four hits and walked two.

The Bison batted around and scored seven runs on seven hits in the second game victory.  Stifter started things with a RBI single. Alex Sobrero hit her third home of the season, a three-run shot to right center and Garcia slammed a two-run home run to right center. Maritza Lopez-Portillo added an RBI.

North Dakota State led 4-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth before the Jaguars cut the deficit in half at 4-2 and then tied the game 4-all on Lindsey Richards' two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.

Stifter went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and her first collegiate home run in the fifth to lead the Bison. Moreland went 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored, while Sobrero and Ortega each added two hits.