Alabama Easton Crimson Classic Photo Gallery 1

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.--Shortstop Logan Moreland tripled home the winning run in the top of the eighth inning as North Dakota State University edged DePaul University 3-2, while host and second-ranked Alabama defeated the Bison 15-2 in five innings on Friday, March 4, during the first day of the Easton Crimson Classic before 2,589 spectators at Rhoads Stadium.

NDSU (8-8) is scheduled to play the second-ranked Crimson Tide (18-1) at 4 p.m. and Louisiana-Monroe (12-6) at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 5.

Moreland's two-out triple to center scored Maritza Lopez-Portillo with two outs in the top of the eighth to put Bison ahead 3-2. Julia Luciano and Moreland each finished with two hits.

Moreland also had a hand in ending the game in  the bottom of the eighth. DePaul (2-10) had a runner on first with one out, but Moreland snared a line drive and threw to first to complete NDSU's fifth double play of the season.

North Dakota State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Katie Shoultz singled and scored on Cheyenne Garcia's RBI double to center. Bre Beatty followed with a single to score Garcia.

DePaul tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Cherelle Chambers led off with a single and scored on Marsha' Penditon's home run.

Jacquelyn Sertic (5-2) picked up the win for NDSU. Sertic struck out eight, scattered four hits and walked one. Morgan Maize (2-6) recorded the loss for the Blue Demons. Maize walked seven and struck out five.

Demi Turner went 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored including a home run as Alabama rolled in the second game. Marisa Runyon also went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored and a homer. The Crimson Tide tied sent 14 batters to the plate in the third and scored 10 runs to blow things open.

Alexis Orosio (6-0) limited NDSU to four hits in recording the victory. Orosio struck out eight and walked four. Kaitlyn "KK" Leddy (3-6) and Sertic pitched for the Bison with Leddy picking up the loss. The pair combined to walk eight and strike out three.

Julia Luciano helped North Dakota State avert the shutout with a two-run double in the top of the fourth inning. Garcia also added a double.