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AUBURN, Ala. – Maddie Hansen and Montana DeCamp each hit home runs as North Dakota State held off Eastern Illinois by the score of 9-6 in the final game at the Tiger Invitational played at Jane B. Moore Field on Sunday, Feb. 24. The Bison finished the tournament with a 3-2 record.
 
NDSU (7-6) is scheduled to open Stanford Nike Invitational play against Cal Poly (3-8) at noon CT Friday, March 1.
 
North Dakota State started fast with nine runs over the first three innings. Hansen hit her fourth home run, a two-run shot, to highlight a three-run first inning. The Bison struck for five runs in the bottom of the third inning that featured a Montana DeCamp three-run home to center field, her second of the spring, to stretch the lead to 9-0.
 
Eastern Illinois (3-11) made things interesting in the late innings including a three-run top of the sixth that cut the NDSU lead to 9-5. The Panthers outhit the Bison 13-9 led by Megan Burton's 3-for-4 and two RBI effort. Mia Davis and Hannah Cravens each added a double and single.
 
Madyson Camacho went 3-for-3 for two stolen bases for North Dakota State, while Katie Shoultz went 2-for-2 with a triple and single, and a pair of stolen bases.
 
Jade Montgomery (0-6), Valerie Thompson and McKenna Coffman pitched for Eastern Illinois with Montgomery taking the loss. The trio combined to strike out five and walk four.
 
Paige Vargas (2-2), Kara O'Byrne and KK Leddy took a turn on the mound for NDSU with Vargas picking up the win. The trio combined to strike out five and walk two.