FRESNO, Calif. – East Carolina scored early and outlasted North Dakota State 8-6 at the Bulldog Classic at Margie Wright Diamond on Sunday, March 8.
 
NDSU (7-16) opens against Wagner College (3-5) at 10 a.m. Central Time at the Loyola Marymount Tournament (Week 2) in Los Angeles.
 
Chandley Garner went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI as East Carolina (15-9) scored five runs over the first two innings and was able to keep the Bison at a distance. ESU outhit NDSU 12-10. Logyn Estes added a double and two RBI for the Pirates. Estes (8-2) also pitched the final four innings to pick up the win.
 
Lauren Reimers went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Skylar Padgett also drove in two runs.
 
Paige Vargas (4-9), Kara O'Byrne and Mac Schulz pitched for North Dakota State with Vargas taking the loss.