Photo Gallery (4-11-15)

FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University rallied from early deficits and scored in bunches including an 11-run fifth inning in game two as the Bison swept South Dakota State University by the scores of 8-4 and 11-3 in a Summit League softball doubleheader played Saturday, April 11, before 175 fans at the warm and windy Ellig Sports Complex.

NDSU (31-7, 9-2 Summit League) and SDSU (12-17, 3-5 Summit League) are scheduled to complete the three-game series at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 12. The Bison reached 30 wins for the ninth straight season under the direction of head coach Darren Mueller and Jamie Trachsel.

North Dakota State sent 12 batter to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning of game two. The Bison took advantage of seven hits three errors and two walks. Four of the base hits were for extra bases.

Jackie Stifter lined a double over the head of the left fielder to knock in the first run. Two runs scored on a SDSU error to the score at 3-3. Cheyenne Garcia delivered a wind blown two-run double to left center and Logan Moreland followed with a line drive RBI single to center to make it 6-3. Alyssa Reina doubled to right to knock in another and Alex Sobrero stroked a two-run single to center to widen the margin to 9-3. Maritza Lopez-Portillo ended the game with a line drive two-run home run over the left field fence. It was Lopez-Portillo's third home run of the season. Moreland finished two games 4-for-7 with four RBI and two runs scored.

South Dakota State had taken a 3-0 lead on Devan Larsen's three-run home run into the wind to left field with two outs in the top of the third inning.

Moreland and Sobrero each had two hits for NDSU. Jacquelyn Sertic (9-5) benefitted from the offense to pick up the win for the Bison. Sertic scattered four hits, struck out four and walked one. She also took advantage of alert defensive plays by Lopez-Portillo in left and Grable at third.

Bryana Clark (4-8) picked up the loss for SDSU. Clark walked three and struck out two.

Krista Menke (22-2) recorded her third one-hitter of the season and seventh in her career in North Dakota State's first game win. However, Menke had to overcome eight walks and a pair of hit batters to keep SDSU off-stride. Menke struck out 14 to reach double-figure strikeouts for the 18th time this spring and 24th time overall.

NDSU took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Garcia singled up the middle, stole second and scored on Reina's two-out single up the middle.

South Dakota State came back with a pair of runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Elyse Eitel reached on catcher's interference and Jessica Markanich walked. Jordyn Sturgeon laced a two-RBI double to right center and collect the Jackrabbits only hit of the game.

The Bison rallied with three runs to regain the lead at 4-2 in the bottom of the second. Stifter doubled to left center, advanced to third on Lopez-Portillo's sacrifice bunt and scored on Katie Shoultz' infield single. Shoultz stole second and scored on Garcia's single through the left side. Garcia, who advanced to second on the throw to plate, scored on Moreland's base hit to right.

NDSU widened the advantage to 8-2 with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moreland and Grable each came through with two-out, two-run singles to highlight the frame. Stifter finished with a pair of doubles, while Garcia and Moreland added a pair of base hits.

SDSU made things interesting and cut the deficit to 8-4 in the top of the sixth inning. The Jackrabbits utilized three walks, a hit batter and a ground out to score twice.

Ashlyn Bender (7-8) took the loss for SDSU. Bender allowed eight hits, struck out two and walked one.