STANFORD, Calif.--North Dakota State University blanked Saint Mary's College 8-0, but dropped an eight-inning 2-1 decision to Long Beach State to split a pair of games at the Stanford Nike Invitational played Saturday, Feb. 20, at Smith Family Stadium.
NDSU (5-4) is scheduled to close out tournament play against Long Beach State (4-3) at 11 a.m. Central Time Sunday, Feb. 21.
North Dakota State did all of its scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning against Saint Mary's (2-5). The Bison sent 11 batters to the plate, collecting eight hits including a pair from freshman
Julia Luciano.
Logan Moreland started things with a run-scoring single and was followed promptly by
Cheyenne Garcia's two-run base hit.
The inning continued as
Alyssa Reina knocked in a pair of runs with a single off the pitcher, while freshman
Zoe Stavrou connected for a three-run home run -- the first by NDSU this season and first Stavrou's collegiate career.
Moreland led the Bison 10-hit outburst with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.
NDSU freshman pitcher Kaitlyn "KK" Leddy allowed just a first inning single by Hailey Sparacino to record her first collegiate shutout. Leddy walked three and struck out one. Lujane Mussadi (1-2) and Katie Moss pitched for the Gaels. The pair combined to walk one and strike out one.
Long Beach State used a LT Torres RBI double to score Nichole Fry in the bottom of the eighth to turn back the Bison in the second game. The 49ers tied the game in the bottom of the seventh when Lauren MacLeod delivered a one-out single to score Darian Tautalafua from second. Torres, Tautalafua and MacLeod each had two hits.
North Dakota State did its scoring in the top of the first.
Katie Shoultz reached on a bunt single and Moreland rifled a base hit to left. Garcia's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a base and Shoultz scored on Reina's RBI single.
Stavrou led the Bison with a double and single.
Jacquelyn Sertic (2-2) recorded the loss for NDSU. Sertic allowed seven hits, struck out four and issued no walks. Christina Clermont (2-1) allowed the Bison two hits after the first inning. Clermont struck out five and also allowed no walks.