COLUMBIA, S.C. – Host and No. 19/21-ranked South Carolina scored three runs early to defeat North Dakota State 4-2 during the first day of the Carolina Classic before a crowd of 1,240 at Carolina Softball Stadium on Friday, Feb. 7.
 
NDSU (0-1) is scheduled to play UNCG (0-0) at 9 a.m. Central Time and Ohio State (0-1) at 11:30 a.m. CT on Saturday, Feb. 8.
 
South Carolina (2-0), which defeated Ohio State 3-2 in the first game, jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against the Bison highlighted by Lauren Stewart's two-run double and sacrifice fly by pitcher Cayla Drotar.
 
NDSU starter Paige Vargas (0-1) settled down after that and limited South Carolina to one run the rest of the way. Vargas allowed six hits, walked three and struck out three.
 
North Dakota State cut the deficit to 3-1 on a two-out RBI single from Montana DeCamp to score Madyson Camacho in the top of the sixth inning.
 
South Carolina got the run back in the bottom of the sixth on Drotar's solo home run to left center. Drotar (1-0) recorded the complete game win. She allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked one.
 
The Bison did threaten in the seventh as Dez Cardenas and Lauren Reimers led off with singles. Avery Wysong knocked in Cardenas with a single. Reimers had a double and single, while Camacho added a pair of singles.