LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Stephanie Soriano connected for the game-winning RBI double and Jacquelyn Sertic struck out 16 as North Dakota State edged Utah Valley 2-1 in nine innings on Sunday, Feb. 11, at the UNLV Sportco Kick Off Classic at Eller Media Stadium.
 
NDSU (2-3) is scheduled to open against Cal State Fullerton in the San Diego State Campbell/Cartier Classic at 11 a.m. CT Friday, Feb. 16. The Bison play the host Aztecs at 6:30 p.m. CT Friday.
 
Soriano smacked a 0-1 pitch into the right center gap to score pinch-runner Lauren Reimers from third. Reimers moved to third on a Tabby Heinz sacrifice bunt. Reimers was placed on second per extra-inning speed up rules.
 
North Dakota State was fortunate to go to the bottom of the ninth tied 1-1. Utah Valley (1-4) had loaded the bases with no outs thanks to an error and bunt single. Following a fly out, Sertic notched two of her season-high 16 strikeouts to end the threat.
 
The teams were scoreless through seven innings with the pitching duel between the Wolverines' Addie Jensen and Sertic. Neither pitcher allowed a hit until the sixth inning. Jensen allowed only three hits, struck out three and walked one. Sertic gave up four hits and issued no walks.
 
Utah Valley took a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth on Kaylee Bott's run-scoring single. Bott had two hits.
 
NDSU battled back to tie the score at 1-1 when Montana DeCamp lined a 2-1 pitch down the left field line to score Maddie Hansen with two outs.