Alabama Easton Crimson Classic Photo Gallery 2TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-- Jacquleyn Sertic and North Dakota State University held off a bases-loaded rally in the seventh inning to defeat second-ranked Alabama 2-1 on Saturday, March 5, before 3,180 spectators at Rhoads Stadium, then thundered past Louisiana-Monroe 9-1 in the second game at the Easton Crimson Classic.
NDSU (10-8) is scheduled close out tournament play against DePaul (3-11) at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 6.
North Dakota State posted the program's win against its highest-ranked opponent in Alabama since defeating No. 9/10-ranked Oklahoma 1-0 (11 innings) at the 2009 NCAA Norman Regional. The Bison have won six of their last 12 meetings with a nationally-ranked opponent and 10 of their last 24.
It didn't come easy. Alabama loaded the bases in the seventh inning on Peyton Grantham's lead-off double and a pair of walks sandwiched two pop outs. Another walk pushed a run across the plate, but Sertic retired the last batter on a fly out to left to secure the win.
"Jax (Sertic) did a great job today. She had really good command of her pitches and had a great mix," said NDSU head coach
Darren Mueller.
"It was a great team win and I'm really proud of how we played all around."
Sertic scattered four hits in going the distance for the Bison. She walked four and struck out three. Sertic picked up her second win of the tournament to improve to 6-2 with an 1.82 earned run average.
Sertic had plenty of help from her defense. Right fielder
Katie Shoultz threw out a runner attempting to score in the third inning, while shortstop
Logan Moreland turned in a pair of web gems in the fifth inning.
"Defensively, Logan (Moreland) made two plays in the fifth that were unbelievable and Katie's throwing the runner out at home in the third were huge," said Mueller.
North Dakota State scored its first run in the bottom of the third inning. Shoultz led off with a single to left center, advanced to second on a ground out and third on an error.
Alyssa Reina sent Shoultz home on a sacrifice fly to center.
NDSU pushed across the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning. Moreland singled through the right side with one out and moved to second on a
Cheyenne Garcia base hit.
Zoe Stavrou took a 2-2 pitch to right field to score Moreland with two outs.
"Zoe had a great at bat, especially with Alabama bringing in Alexis Osorio, and handling a 2-2 count on her," said Mueller.
Shoultz and Garcia each finished with two hits for the Bison.
North Dakota State rode the momentum into the second game against Louisiana-Monroe (12-8) and closed out in a strong way.
The Bison opened the scoring with a Reina double down the left field line in the top of the first, and then extended the lead to 2-0 on
Maritza Lopez-Portillo's second home run of the season -- a solo shot to left in the top of the fourth.
After Louisiana-Monroe cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on Amye Barre's run-scoring single, NDSU responded with three runs in the top of the fifth.
Jackie Stifter's ground out produced the first run, and
Julia Luciano delivered a RBI single and then scored on an error to make it 5-1.
The Bison closed out the scoring with four runs in the top of the sixth. Bases-loaded walks to Luciano and Stavrou chased home a pair of runs, while
Jenna Isbel capped off a 3-for-3 effort by knocking in a run.
North Dakota State pounded out 13 hits led by Isbel. Shoultz and Reina each had a double and single, while Garcia added a pair of base hits.
Kaitlyn "KK" Leddy recorded the win to snap a four-game losing streak and improve to 4-6 on the season. Leddy allowed six hits with one strikeout and no walks.
Melanie Coyne (8-5) and Katlynn Kaminski pitched for the Warhawks with Coyne picking up the loss. The pair combined to walk six and strike out one. Sidney Coy and Barre each had two hits for ULM.
