CLEARWATER, Fla. – North Dakota State hit a pair of solo home runs, but it was a squeeze bunt that provided the eventual game-winning run as the Bison defeated Butler University 3-2 in a single-game played Wednesday, March 13, at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
 
NDSU (12-11) is scheduled to play Eastern Illinois (7-17) at 12:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 14, in Clearwater.
 
NDSU played long ball to score the first two runs. Vanessa Anderson hit her second home run of the season to center field with two outs in the bottom of the second. Cara Beatty led off the bottom of the fourth with a shot to center, her third of the season.
 
The Bison extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Katie Shoultz led off with a single through the left side, stole second and advanced to third on a Butler misplay. Beatty laid down the sacrifice bunt and Shoultz scored.
 
It was a big run as Butler (8-11) rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh inning capped off by a two-run single from pinch-hitter Payton Longest.
 
NDSU pitcher Paige Vargas struck out the final two batters to finish the complete game win. Vargas (5-4) matched her career-high with seven strikeouts, allowed five hits and walked two.
 
Alyssa Graves (3-4) took the loss for the Bulldogs. Graves struck out eight, scattered five hits and walked four.