LOUISVILLE, Ky.--North Dakota State University rebounded from a disappointing 4-3 loss to host Louisville with a resounding 11-0 win over Kent State on Saturday, Feb. 27, during the Red & Black Classic at Ulmer Stadium.

NDSU (6-6) is scheduled to play Cleveland State (4-8) at 9:30 a.m. CT and then face Kent State (11-2) again at 11:30 a.m. CT to close out tournament play.

While Bison sophomore right-hander Jacquelyn Sertic was spinning her third career shutout, the offense connected for 10 hits including a grand slam home run from senior left fielder Maritza Lopez-Portillo to hand the Golden Flashes only their second loss in 13 games this season.

Sertic struck out a career-high nine batters and limited Kent State to three hits. She improved to 3-2 this spring.

North Dakota State came out strong in the bottom of the first inning as five of the first six batters collected hits. Cheyenne Garcia doubled to right center to knock in a pair and Alyssa Reina followed with a double to score Garcia. Jackie Stifter closed out the scoring with a RBI single to put the Bison ahead 4-0.

After Sertic struck out the side in the top of the second, NDSU's offense continued to roll. Garcia collected her third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly. Logan Moreland, who singled, stole second and third and scored on Reina's run-scoring base hit. Three straight walks produced a run and then Lopez-Portillo lowered the boom with the grand slam. It was the first Bison grand slam since Stifter hit one against IUPUI on May 3, 2015.

Moreland, Garcia and Reina each finished with two hits for North Dakota State. Garcia had a pair of doubles and three runs batted in, while Moreland and Reina each scored two runs. Janel Hayes (3-2) and Emily Dobbin pitched for Kent State with Hayes recording the loss. The combined to walk four and strike out three.

Louisville (9-4) rallied two runs in the fifth and sixth innings and then held off NDSU's rally in the seventh inning to secure the win.

North Dakota State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Zoe Stavrou scored the first run on a passed ball and Julia Luciano delivered a RBI single to score Stifter.

The Cardinals tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth on Maryssa Becker's two-run double to right center. Hailey Smith's delivered a RBI single to put Louisville ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth and then added an insurance run on Brittany Sims' sacrifice fly.

NDSU threatened in the top of the seventh inning. Katie Shoultz led off with a single and scored on Garcia's triple to right. However, Garcia was thrown out at home trying to advance on a ground out. Shoultz went 3-for-4 to lead the Bison, which finished with 11 hits. Garcia and Stavrou both added two hits.

Louisville overcame a pair of errors with two defensive plays that erased a pair of Bison runs at the plate. Megan Hensley (6-1) worked the first 6.1 innings to record the win. Hensley struck out five and issued no walks. Becker retired the final two batters to earn her first save.

Kaitlyn KK Leddy (3-4) picked up the loss for North Dakota State. Leddy scattered seven hits, struck out three and walked two.