Box Score

STANFORD, Calif.--North Dakota State University pounded out 18 hits to defeat Portland State University 11-3 in six innings on Sunday, March 9, in the final game of Stanford's Louisville Slugger Classic played at the Smith Family Stadium. The Bison finished the tournament with a 3-2 record.

NDSU (13-8) is scheduled to play Saint Louis University (8-7) at noon Friday, March 14, in the opening game of the Fighting Illini Classic in Champaign, Ill.

North Dakota State sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning and exploded for six runs on seven hits. All six runs scored with two outs starting with Jackie Stifter's RBI double. Alex Sobrero followed with a run-scoring single, Cheyenne Garcia sent home another on a base hit and Jenina Ortega smacked a two-run double to right center. Amanda Grable's RBI single closed out the scoring.

The Bison extended the lead to 7-1 in the top of fifth inning on Stifter's RBI single up the middle.

Portland State (3-14) cut the deficit to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth. The Vikings took advantage of a walk and two NDSU errors.

North Dakota State put things out of reach with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Grable stroked a run-scoring single, stole second and scored on a single from Brandi Enriquez. Stifter's second double of the day, this one to left center, knocked in two runs.

Stifter, a 5-foot-9 sophomore from Winsted, Minn.,  had a career best 3 for 4 day with a pair of doubles and four RBI. Five of Stifter's nine career hits have went for doubles.

Stifter led a group of seven Bison players with at least two hits and a trio with three. "Luke" Enriquez went 3 for 4 with three runs scored, a double and one RBI. Sobrero went 3 for 5 with one run scored and a RBI.

NDSU starter Krista Menke benefitted from the offense to improve to 9-3. Menke scattered four hits, walked three and struck out two. Karyn Wright (1-8) took the loss for Portland State.