TUCSON, Ariz. – North Dakota State University exploded past Ball State 6-0 and held off Abilene Christian 4-2 on Saturday, Feb. 18, during the second day of the University of Arizona Wildcat Invitational at Hillenbrand Stadium. The Bison snapped a four-game losing streak against Ball State.
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NDSU (3-6) is scheduled to close out tournament play against No. 10/11-ranked Arizona at 2 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, Feb. 19.
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North Dakota State erupted for six runs in the fourth inning against Ball State. The Bison were limited to three hits in two games Friday, but responded with five in the fourth.
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Bre Beatty started things with a RBI single, followed by the
Lauren Reimers' two-run base hit through the left side.
Montana DeCamp delivered the big blow with a three-run home run to left center, her first collegiate long ball. Beatty went 3 for 3, while
Stephanie Soriano added a double and single.
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While NDSU found its offense,
Jacquelyn Sertic (2-5) was working on her second shutout of the season and the 10th of her career. Sertic struck out six, scattered six hits and walked two.
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Carolyn Wilmes (0-4) and Aeshia Miles pitched for Ball State (3-6) with Wilmes picking up the loss. The pair combined to allow eight hits, walk three and strike out three.
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Zoe Stavrou fed off the momentum. Stavrou tied the school single-game record with two home runs – both two-run shots in the first and third innings to take care of the scoring against Abilene Christian in a game delayed two hours by rain. Stavrou tied the record for the second time in her career.
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KK Leddy (1-1) worked the first 5.2 innings, allowing four hits with a pair of strikeouts and one walk. Sertic pitched a scoreless 1.1 innings including two strikeouts to shut the door on Abilene Christian and earn her second career save.
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Stavrou, Soriano and Reimers each had two hits for NDSU. Soriano and Reimers both had a double and single.
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Peyton Hedrick went 3 for 3 including a solo home run for the Wildcats (3-7), which scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to cut into the deficit.
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Hannah Null and Sidney Holman pitched for Abilene Christian with Null taking the loss. The pair combined to allow eight hits, strike out five and walk three.