NDSU 2, Drake 1 (Box Score).pdf
NDSU 9, Iowa 1 (Box Score).pdf

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa--Cheyenne Garcia hit three home runs over two games and Krista Menke picked up a win and a save as North Dakota State turned back Drake University 2-1 and blitzed the University of Iowa 9-1 in five innings on Saturday, Feb. 7, during the second day of the Ramda UNI-Dome Classic.

North Dakota State (3-0) is scheduled to close out tournament play against host Northern Iowa (1-1) at 12:15 p.m. and Drake (2-1) at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the UNI-Dome.

Garcia, a junior from Vista, Calif. (Rancho Buena Vista H.S.), hit a pair of home runs in the win over the Hawkeyes (2-2). She led off the fourth inning with a solo shot and then hammered her second, a two-run blast to left field in NDSU's six-run fifth inning. Garcia tied the school record with the two home runs in a game. The feat has been achieved 19 times by 12 different players.

Iowa took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Cheyenne Pratt's triple. It was only one of two hits allowed by Menke, who was the second game starter for NDSU.

The Bison answered quickly to knot things up 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Alex Sobrero doubled down the right field line and scored on Alyssa Reina's two-base hit to left center.

North Dakota State took the lead for good at 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Katie Shoultz reached on an error, advanced to second on the play and scored on Sobrero's single up the middle.

Garcia's solo home run extended the advantage to 3-1 in the fourth, and then the floodgates opened. Sobrero completed a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with a two-run home run to center. Garcia hit her second home run, and then Martiza Lopez-Portillo ended the game with a two-run shot to left.

Menke improved to 2-0 with the two-hitter. She struck out eight and walked one facing 18 batters over five innings. Iowa used three pitchers with Ashley Yoways (1-1) picking up the loss.

Garcia figured into both scoring plays for North Dakota State during the 2-1 win over Drake University. She led off the top of the second inning with a home run, but the Bulldogs' tied things in the bottom of the frame on Rebekah Schmidt's RBI double.

In the top of the fourth inning with one out, Garcia struck out swinging, but reached first base on a passed ball. She advanced to second on an Amanda Grable ground out, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Lopez-Portillo's single. Garcia went 2-for-3 as NDSU was limited to five hits overall.

Bison freshman Jacquelyn Sertic made her first collegiate start a good one. Sertic struck out six, walked five and allowed three hits in six innings of work. Menke entered in the seventh to record the final three outs and pick up the save. Schmidt (1-1) picked up the loss for Drake. She struck out eight and issued no walks over seven innings.