KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--North Dakota State rallied with eight runs in the sixth inning to defeat the University of Northern Iowa 12-4 in the University of Tennessee Invitational opener Friday, March 6, but fell 4-1 to Indiana State University in the second game at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First game temperature was 23 degrees under clear skies.
NDSU (13-4) is scheduled to play Purdue University (10-5) at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 7, and then host and No. 11-ranked Tennessee (11-3) at 11:15 a.m. on the tournament's final day.
The Bison broke a 4-4 deadlock with eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against UNI (5-11). Five different players came up with run-scoring hits for NDSU.
Shortstop
Logan Moreland, a junior from Woodland, Calif., started the rally with a two-run single up the middle. Moreland put the finishing touches on a career best 4-for-4 effort at plate that including three RBI, two runs scored and a double.
Cheyenne Garcia followed with a RBI double to left and
Alyssa Reina stroked a run-scoring single to left.
Amanda Grable swatted a two-run double down the left field line and
Katie Shoultz finished things off with a two RBI single through the left side.
Northern Iowa had scored four times in the top of sixth. The Panthers took advantage of a Rikki Alcaraz sacrifice fly and Chelsea Ross' three-run home run to left.
Reina had extended NDSU's lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning with a three-run home run. It was her fourth of the season.
Krista Menke (9-1) recorded the win for the Bison with her fourth two-hitter of the season and 18th of her career. Menke struck out nine and walked four. Alyssa Buchanan (2-5) and Samantha Belz pitched for UNI with Buchanan picking up the loss. The pair combined to allow 14 hits, walk six and strike out four.
Mary Turitto went 2 for 3 with a home run and two RBI as Indiana State turned back North Dakota State 4-1 in the second game. Turitto's home run put the Sycamores (3-9) ahead 2-0 in the top of the second.
Megan Stone, who also went 2 for 3, hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to extend Indiana State's lead to 3-1.
NDSU cut the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Garcia's solo home run to left field. It was Garcia's team-leading sixth home run of the season. She finished with a pair of hits for the Bison.
Taylor Lockwood (2-4) scattered six hits, struck out five and walked two over the first 6-1/3 innings to earn the win. Yvette Alvarez recorded the final two outs to pick up her second save of the season.
Jacquelyn Sertic (4-3) was tagged with the loss for NDSU. Sertic allowed seven hits, struck out six and issued no walks.
