PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – No 5-ranked Washington scored single runs in the sixth and seventh inning to defeat North Dakota State 5-3 on Friday, Feb. 15, in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge at Nancy Almaraz Field.
 
NDSU (4-3) is scheduled to play Southern Illinois (5-2) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.
 
The teams combined to score five of the game's eight runs in the first inning. Washington (8-1) used a Kaija Gibson run-scoring single to left and Nawai Kaupe's two-run double to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the frame. Gibson finished 3-for-3 for the Huskies who finished with 10 hits.
 
North Dakota State bounced back to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the first. Zoe Stavrou delivered a RBI single to center to score Stephanie Soriano. Stavrou later scored on a passed ball. Soriano led the Bison with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate.
 
NDSU tied the game at 3-all in the bottom of the fifth when Katie Shoultz scored on a Washington error. Shoultz did turn in a solid defensive play in the top of the seventh, combining with Maddie Hansen to cut a run down at the plate.
 
However, the Huskies received a two-out RBI single from Sis Bates in the top of the sixth and Rachel Ogasawara run-scoring single in the seventh.
 
KK Leddy (3-2) settled in following a rough first inning. Leddy went the distance, striking out five and walking four in the loss.
 
Pat Moore and Gabbie Plain (2-0) pitched for Washington with Plain picking up the win. The pair combined to strike out seven and walk one. Plain didn't allow a hit over the final 2.2 innings.