AUBURN, Ala. –
Maddie Hansen delivered the game-winning hit in the top of the ninth and
KK Leddy recorded two of her nine strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth as North Dakota State scratched its way past Troy University 3-2 in extra-innings in the Tiger Invitational played at Jane B. Moore Field on Friday, Feb. 22. The Bison bounced back from a 4-1 loss to No. 21-ranked and host Auburn in the first game.
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NDSU (5-5) is scheduled to play host Auburn at 4:30 p.m. and Villanova (4-3) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23.
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Playing international rules,
Madyson Camacho was placed on second to start the ninth. Camacho advanced to third as
Zoe Stavrou reached on a throwing error. Hansen sent Camacho home on a one-out single to right field.
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Bailey Taylor was placed on second for Troy (10-4) to start the bottom of the ninth and moved to third on Stephanie Snyder's sacrifice bunt. Leddy notched a her first strikeout and the second out before giving up a walk to Brooke Echols, who had tied the game with a home run in the bottom of the seventh. Leddy recorded her second strikeout to end the game.
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North Dakota State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth on
Cara Beatty's RBI double. Hansen led off the top of the seventh with a home run to left center, her third of the season to put the Bison ahead 2-0.
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The teams combined for only nine hits as Troy's Annie Willis (4-2) and Leddy (4-3) buckled down on the mound. Willis limited the Bison to four hits, struck out nine and issued no walks. Leddy scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked two.
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Alyssa Rivera went 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead Auburn (9-3) past the Bison in the first game. Rivera hit a home run in the second to put the Tigers ahead 1-0.
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NDSU countered with
Stephanie Soriano's RBI single with two outs to score
Vanessa Anderson and tie the game in the top of the third. Stavrou finished with two hits.
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Auburn took the lead for good in the bottom of the third on Casey McCrackin's RBI double, followed by a Rivera run-scoring single. Rivera closed the scoring with a RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
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Makayla Martin (5-1) scattered five hits, struck out seven and walked two in claiming the win.
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Paige Vargas (1-2) allowed six hits, struck out four and walked two in taking the loss.
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