DEKALB, Ill.--Alyssa Reina hit her seventh home run of the season and Jacquelyn Sertic fired a one-hitter as North Dakota State University defeated Northern Illinois University 3-0 in a single-game played Thursday, March 19, at Mary M. Bell Field. The Bison have won six straight games.

NDSU (20-5) is scheduled to open a three-game Summit League series at Western Illinois University on March 21-22 in Macomb.

Reina, a sophomore from Auburn, Calif., led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to put the Bison ahead 1-0. It was her team-leading seventh homer of the season. She was also involved in the scoring in the sixth when NDSU pushed the lead to 3-0.

Cheyenne Garcia singled, Reina walked and Amanda Grable added a base hit to load the bases with one out in the sixth frame. Maritza Lopez-Portillo lifted a sacrifice fly to plate Garcia, while Reina alertly moved to third. Grable then allowed herself to get caught in a rundown between first and second to score Reina.

Sertic, a freshman from Sparks, Nev., allowed Northern Illinois just a fourth inning single to Emily Naegele. Sertic struck out three and walked two, improving to 5-3 on the season. NDSU's defense helped out, turning its third double play of the season.

NIU's Keegan Harris and Jessica Sturm were just as tough on the Bison, scattering four hits. Harris (5-6) took the loss as she and Sturm combined to walk three and strike out two.