FARGO, N.D.--Shortstop
Logan Moreland hit a pair of home runs to tie the school single-game record as North Dakota State University powered past visiting IPFW 13-8 to complete the Summit League softball series sweep on a cold and windy Sunday, April 10, at the Ellig Sports Complex. The Bison have won 12 of their last 14 games and six in a row.
NDSU (24-12, 6-0 SL) is scheduled to step out of league play and host the University of North Dakota (12-25, 1-6 Big Sky) in single-game 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the Ellig Sports Complex.
North Dakota State jumped out front early again, building a 10-2 lead after three innings before the Mastodons (10-29, 1-8 SL) made things interesting in the middle frames.
Cheyenne Garcia opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a run-scoring double to left center.
Jackie Stifter was hit by pitch with the bases-loaded and
Zoe Stavrou drilled a two RBI single up the middle to put NDSU ahead 4-0. Stifter has been plunked 12 times this season, adding to her school single-season record.
The Bison tacked on a pair of runs in the second to extend the lead to 6-0 in the second.
Alyssa Reina went opposite field and lined a RBI triple down the right field line.
Julia Luciano followed with a run-scoring single up the middle.
IPFW cut the deficit to 6-2 in the top of the third. Jessica Murray delivered a sacrifice fly to knock in the first, while Amber Davis' infield single drove in the second.
Moreland, a senior from Woodland, Calif., hit her first home run, a three-run shot to left center, with two outs in the bottom of the third. Garcia singled, stole second and third, and scored on a throwing error to put the the Bison up 10-2.
The Mastodons were frisky in the top of the fourth inning and scored five times to cut the gap to 10-7. Sierra Miranda doubled to left center to plate two runs, while Lauren Watson, Emily Olszewski and Davis each had RBI singles. Watson went 3-for-4 to pace IPFW, while Davis had a pair of hits.
North Dakota State quieted the uprising in the bottom of the fifth. Moreland launched a 3-2 pitch over the scoreboard in center and on the running track to start things in the inning.
Maritza Lopez-Portillo blooped a two-run single inside the right field line to close out the scoring. Moreland, who went 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored, tied the NDSU single-game record for home runs for the third time in her career. That record has been achieved 22 times by 13 athletes.
NDSU outhit IPFW 16-11. Garcia followed Moreland with a pair of doubles and a single, Reina belted a triple and double, Stavrou collected a double and single, and Luciano added a pair of base hits.
Jacquelyn Sertic (17-5) picked up the win in relief of starter Kaitlyn "KK" Leddy. Sertic struck out six, allowed three hits and walked two over the final four innings. Elizabeth Snodgrass (1-7) and Sarah Lazarowich pitched for IPFW with Snodgrass recording the loss. The pair combined to strike out four and walk four.