Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

OMAHA, Neb.--North Dakota State University rallied twice to defeat the University of Nebraska at Omaha by the scores of 4-3 and 3-2 in a Summit League softball doubleheader played Saturday, April 5, before a crowd of 307 at Westside Field at Westbrook.

NDSU (21-12, 4-0 Summit League) and Omaha (19-13, 2-3 SL) are scheduled to close out the three-game series with a single game at noon Sunday, April 6.

Krista Menke, a 5-foot-11 junior righthander from Friend, Neb., picked up the win in both games to improve to 16-4 overall and 4-0 in league play. Menke struck out a career-high 12 and held off the Mavs in a complete game win in the opener, then pitched two scoreless innings in relief in the second game. She struck out 15, walked six, allowed three hits over nine innings of work.

The Bison jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the second inning of the first game on Amanda Grable's solo home run to center with one out. It was Grable's fourth home run of the season.

Omaha scored twice in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Allie Mathewson led off the frame with a home run to left center. Sydney Hames stroked a one-out double down the left field line to knock in the other.

North Dakota State answered with three runs in the bottom the fourth. Maritza Lopez-Portillo, Jenna Isbel and Brandi Enriquez each came up with two-out singles to put the Bison ahead 4-2. Isbel finished with two hits, while Jackie Stifter added a double and single.

The Mavs took advantage of two NDSU errors and Mara Eeman's sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the sixth inning.

Menke retired the final five batters she faced to record the win including her 11th and 12th strikeouts. Dana Elsasser (16-6) picked up the loss for Omaha. Elsasser allowed nine hits, struck out eight and walked one.

NDSU pushed across a run in the first inning of the nightcap to take an early lead. Alex Sobrero singled, stole second, moved to third on a fly out and scored on an error.

Omaha scratched out a run in the top of the third inning. Lia Mancuso led off with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on Mathewson's infield single and scored on a passed ball. The Mavs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Hames and Lizzie Noble. Menke took over for Bison starter Tabby Bayers and ended the threat.

North Dakota State rallied in the bottom of the sixth. Sobrero singled down the left field line to start the frame and advanced to third when Logan Moreland reached on a two-base error. Cheyenne Garcia singled up the middle to plate Sobrero and Moreland. Sobrero led NDSU with two hits.

Bayers struck out four, allowed four hits and walked three over the first five innings. Kat Barrow (1-5) was tagged with the loss for the Mavs. Barrow scattered five hits, struck out four and issued no walks.