LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Jacquelyn Sertic pitched her second straight shutout and recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts as North Dakota State University blanked Cleveland State 8-0, while Holly Speers hit two home runs to lead Kent State to a 6-3 win over the Bison on Sunday, Feb. 28, during the final day of the Louisville Red & Black Classic at Ulmer Stadium.

NDSU (7-7) is scheduled to open against DePaul University (2-8) at 11 a.m. Friday, March 4, at the University of Alabama Easton Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa.

Sertic, a sophomore right-hander from Sparks, Nev., scattered five hits with no walks in notching her fourth career shutout against Cleveland State (4-9). She improved to 4-2 on the season.

Katie Shoultz opened the bottom of the first with a bunt single and stole a pair of bases, scoring on an error to put the Bison ahead 1-0.

North Dakota State increased the lead to 7-0 with six runs and six hits in the fourth inning. Cheyenne Garcia and Alyssa Reina belted back-to-back doubles to lead-off the frame to produce the first run. Jackie Stifter and Julia Luciano followed with run-scoring singles, while Jenna Isbel delivered a sacrifice fly. A fielder's choice from Garcia pushed across another run and Shoultz scored on a passed ball. Luciano had a sacrifice fly to close out the scoring in the top of the seventh.

NDSU finished with 12 hits as all nine starters collected at least one. Stifter and Luciano each had a double and single. Luciano finished with two runs batted in.

Riley Ries had two hits for Cleveland State. Mackenzie Joecken (1-3) and Kristin Catalano pitched for the Vikings with Joecken picking up the loss. The pair combined to strike out two and walk one.

Kent State (12-2) came from behind twice to defeat North Dakota State in the final game called due to a time limit to ensure NDSU making flight arrangements. Speers first home run, a three-run shot to left field, put the Golden Flashes on top for good at 4-2 in the bottom of the third inning.

The Bison cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fourth when Stifter took a 3-2 pitch over the center field fence to lead-off the inning. Stifter went 2-for-2 against Kent State, 4-for-5 on Sunday and hit .667 (6x9) with four runs scored and three RBI.

Maddy Grimm and Speers hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 6-3. Speers finished 2-for-2 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Ronnie Ladines (8-0) recorded the win for Kent State. Ladines struck out two and walked two. Kaitlyn "KK" Leddy (3-5) and Sertic pitched for NDSU with Leddy picking up the loss. The pair combined to strike out four and walk four.