EUGENE, Ore.--Krista Menke struck out 10 and recorded her 12th shutout of the season as 24/25th-ranked North Dakota State University defeated Fresno State University 4-0 in a game that featured only five base hits played Thursday, May 14, at University of Oregon's Howe Field.

The Bison (44-9) will play overall No. 2 seed Oregon (47-6) at 1 p.m. Central Friday, May 15. The Ducks were ranked No. 1 by the NFCA/USA Today panel and No. 2 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. Oregon defeated BYU 8-0 in six innings.

"It's big to get that first win out of the way. Both teams were obviously nervous out there. I think you come back and relax in some aspects. We're not the favorite to win this thing. Oregon is the No. 2 seed, but getting that first win you put yourself in a good position for the rest of the tournament. You don't feel like you're pressing the entire time," said NDSU head coach Darren Mueller.

Menke, a 5-foot-11 senior from Friend, Neb., struck out the first four batters faced and built momentum from there. She allowed just a pair of singles -- both to the Bulldogs' Michelle Solomon. Only one Fresno State baserunner advanced to second.Menke (33-4) has been the pitcher of record for the Bison in their last NCAA tournanment wins against Hawai'i, Auburn and Fresno State. She reached double-figure strikeouts for the 23rd time this season and 30th of her career.

"You go out there thinking every game is going to be your last game, especially as a senior. That's how you have to approach everything in my mind," said Menke.

Opportunity for North Dakota State (44-9) knocked in the second inning when Katie Shoultz drew a bases-loaded walk to score Alyssa Reina to put the Bison ahead 1-0.

Opportunity knocked again in the bottom of the third inning when the NDSU scored three times to extend the lead to 4-0. Amanda Grable stroked a RBI single up the middle to score Cheyenne Garcia. Reina scooted to third and Grable went to second on the throw.

Jackie Stifter then delivered a two-run single up past the diving second baseman. Stifter also had a key sacrifice bunt to set the table in the second frame.

"We have a good pitcher and they have a good pitcher. It didn't really surprise me (about the low number of hits)," said Grable, a senior third baseman from Santee, Calif. "We only had three hits, but scored four runs... doesn't matter how you get them."

Reina scored twice, reached on a pair of walks and had the other NDSU hit, a single in the sixth.

Fresno State (40-15) threatened in the top of the fourth inning. Solomon singled and advanced to second on a walk to Kierra Willis. Menke got a fly out to center and strike out to end the rally. With one on and two out in the sixth, Paige Gumz hit a fly to left flagged down by Maritza Lopez-Portillo. Lopez-Portillo finished with four putouts.

Jill Compton (28-11) recorded the loss for the Bulldogs. Compton walked five and struck out five.