CHICAGO, Ill.—North Dakota State University scored eight runs over the last two innings to defeat DePaul University 10-5 in eight innings on Thursday, March 18, at Cacciatore Stadium.

NDSU (19-5) is scheduled to play at Northern Illinois University (12-12) in a single-game at 1:30 p.m Thursday, March 19, in DeKalb.

The Bison were down to their last out in the top of the eighth when Katie Shoultz was hit by a pitch and stole second to start the rally. Alex Sobrero and Logan Moreland each drew walks to load the bases Cheyenne Garcia laced a double to center to knock in Shoultz and Sobrero. Alyssa Reina then drilled a three-run home run to center to close out the scoring. It was Reina's sixth home run of the season.

DePaul (7-16) didn't go silently in the bottom of the eighth. The Blue Demons received a Staci Bonezek ground-rule double, Sabrina Kuchta was hit by pitch and Micah Fitzgerald walked to load the bases.

Krista Menke (15-2) retired the next three in order with a strikeout, foul out and another strikeout to end the threat. Menke walked nine, allowed eight hits and struck out 10. She reached double-figure strikeouts for the 14th time this season.

NDSU trailed 4-2 heading into the top of the season, but scored three times to take a short-lived 5-4 lead.  Jenna Isbel and Shoultz led off the frame with singles and scored on Sobrero's two-run double. Sobrero advanced to third on an error and crossed the plate on Amanda Grable's single.

DePaul answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh on Morgan Maize's two-out double to right center. Maize's double was one of five extra-base hits for the Blue Demons. Dylan Christensen went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs and three RBI, while Kuchta also homered.

Sobrero, Grable and Shoultz all finished with two hits for North Dakota State, which collected 11 overall. Shoultz scored three runs, while Sobrero and Isbel each added two.