STANFORD, Calif.--North Dakota State University used a six-run fifth inning to pull away for a 9-1 win over host Stanford University, while Cheyenne Garcia and Logan Moreland combined for six hits, three runs and three RBI in the 5-1 victory over Saint Mary's College on Friday, Feb. 19, during the first day of the Stanford Nike Invitational at Smith Family Stadium.

NDSU (4-3) is scheduled to play Saint Mary's College (2-4) at 5 p.m. and Long Beach State (2-3) at 7:30 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, Feb. 20.

Guarding a 3-1 lead, North Dakota State sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth inning. The Bison took advantage of three hits, two errors, a pair of wild pitches, two walks and fielder's choice to strike for six runs. Alyssa Reina led off with a single and scored on Bre Beatty's double to right center. Beatty went 2-for-3 against the Cardinal and was one of seven NDSU players with a run batted in.

Pinch-runner Joei Samper promptly moved to third on an illegal pitch and Jackie Stifter walked. Samper scored on Julia Luciano's single that moved Stifter to third. Luciano stole second and then went to third when Jenna Isbel reached on a fielder's choice that pushed Stifter across the plate. Katie Shoultz reached on an error to advance Luciano home and Isbel to third. Back-to-back wild pitches scored Isbel and moved Shoultz to third. Logan Moreland closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to left.

North Dakota State struck in top of the first inning on Reina's RBI ground out, but Stanford (3-3) tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Kylie Sorensen scored on a wild pitch. NDSU regained the lead at 2-1 in the top of the second on pinch-hitter Vanessa Anderson's run-scoring single. The Bison added another run in the top of the third when Maritza Lopez-Portillo led off with a double and scored on a Cardinal two-base error.

NDSU freshman KK Leddy (2-2) took advantage of the offense to even her record. Leddy allowed four hits, walked three and struck out two. Carolyn Lee (1-2) and Haley Snyder worked on the mound for Stanford with Lee picking up the loss. The pair combined to walk five and strike out five.

Garcia and Moreland took part in four of North Dakota State's five scoring plays against Saint Mary's. Moreland went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and RBI, while Garcia went 3-for-3 with two RBI, double and run scored.

Saint Mary's broke up Jacquelyn Sertic's shutout bid in the top of the sixth inning when Andrea Hazel doubled home Hailey Sparacino. Sertic (2-1) recorded the win. She scattered four hits, struck out three and issued no walks. Katie Moss and Kaitlyn Whitt pitched for the Gaels with Moss picking up the loss. The pair combined to strike out three and walk one.