Norman Conquest: North Dakota State's Victory Secures NCAA Softball Regional Title
5/17/2020 12:25:00 PM | Softball
NORMAN, Okla. - North Dakota State seemed to enjoy its trip to central Oklahoma. Good thing, since they are now two wins away from a return trip.
The Bison (38-18) claimed the NCAA Division I Norman Regional softball championship Sunday, May 17, beating Tulsa 4-1 at the University of Oklahoma Softball Complex.
"(Assistant coach) Jamie (Trachsel) and I talked a lot about, our goal is not to just win The Summit League, but our goal is to win the regional tournament." NDSU head coach Darren Mueller said. "One of our mottos this year as a team is 'Dream big.' And, wow, it's happened."
NDSU is one of only three teams seeded fourth in its regional to even advance to the championship round. Oklahoma State - eliminated Sunday by California - and Boston University are the others.
Nicole Rivera set the tone for the Bison, delivering a solo home run to lead off the game.
"We knew she had that kind of power," NDSU pitcher Andi Padilla said.
"She's just so versatile, it's amazing. I mean, that's the way to start out a game, and it puts the other team ... it's hard to bounce back from that."
Padilla delivered a two-hitter from the pitching circle, her second of the Bison's three-game regional sweep.
After the Golden Hurricane (40-17) manufactured a run in the bottom of the first to even the game at one, Padilla gave up just one more hit, and none after the third inning.
"Something was a little off," Padilla said of Sunday's early innings.
"I didn't feel as sharp. And so, I think, once they scored, I was like, 'OK, I can't let this be a close game.' I just really tried to bear down."
Rivera went on to score the eventual winning run in the third inning. She singled to open the inning, then took off around second and toward third base when Elisa Victa laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Skylar Swanson's throw from second went well wide of Tulsa third baseman Stephanie Chomicki, and Rivera scooted across home plate.
Melissa Chmielewski cracked a solo homer over the left field wall in the same inning to put the Bison up 3-1. Taylor Lynn added the Bison's final insurance run with an infield single in the sixth that slipped past both Chomicki and Tulsa shortstop Kailey Yarmer.
The Bison regional win is the program's first in post-season play since the Bison began the transition to Division I in 2004. NDSU was not eligible to play in any postseason tournaments, because of the rules governing the transition from Division II.
NDSU now advances to a best-of-three Super Regional series later this week at Arizona State. Win that, and the Bison would advance to the Women's College World Series, which begins May 28 in Oklahoma City.
"The road is kind of our home," Padilla said of her Bison, which have played just five home games all season. "It's weird when we have a home series. I just think we're really comfortable being far away, and with a different crowd. We love it. We're used to it, so I think it helps in these kind of situations."
NDSU 102 001 0- 4 6 0
Tulsa 100 000 0- 1 2 2
Padilla and Cantrell. Lawrence and Timmons. W-Padilla (26-10). L-Lawrence (21-6). HR-NDSU, Rivera (1), Chmielewski (10).
The Bison (38-18) claimed the NCAA Division I Norman Regional softball championship Sunday, May 17, beating Tulsa 4-1 at the University of Oklahoma Softball Complex.
"(Assistant coach) Jamie (Trachsel) and I talked a lot about, our goal is not to just win The Summit League, but our goal is to win the regional tournament." NDSU head coach Darren Mueller said. "One of our mottos this year as a team is 'Dream big.' And, wow, it's happened."
NDSU is one of only three teams seeded fourth in its regional to even advance to the championship round. Oklahoma State - eliminated Sunday by California - and Boston University are the others.
Nicole Rivera set the tone for the Bison, delivering a solo home run to lead off the game.
"We knew she had that kind of power," NDSU pitcher Andi Padilla said.
"She's just so versatile, it's amazing. I mean, that's the way to start out a game, and it puts the other team ... it's hard to bounce back from that."
Padilla delivered a two-hitter from the pitching circle, her second of the Bison's three-game regional sweep.
After the Golden Hurricane (40-17) manufactured a run in the bottom of the first to even the game at one, Padilla gave up just one more hit, and none after the third inning.
"Something was a little off," Padilla said of Sunday's early innings.
"I didn't feel as sharp. And so, I think, once they scored, I was like, 'OK, I can't let this be a close game.' I just really tried to bear down."
Rivera went on to score the eventual winning run in the third inning. She singled to open the inning, then took off around second and toward third base when Elisa Victa laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Skylar Swanson's throw from second went well wide of Tulsa third baseman Stephanie Chomicki, and Rivera scooted across home plate.
Melissa Chmielewski cracked a solo homer over the left field wall in the same inning to put the Bison up 3-1. Taylor Lynn added the Bison's final insurance run with an infield single in the sixth that slipped past both Chomicki and Tulsa shortstop Kailey Yarmer.
The Bison regional win is the program's first in post-season play since the Bison began the transition to Division I in 2004. NDSU was not eligible to play in any postseason tournaments, because of the rules governing the transition from Division II.
NDSU now advances to a best-of-three Super Regional series later this week at Arizona State. Win that, and the Bison would advance to the Women's College World Series, which begins May 28 in Oklahoma City.
"The road is kind of our home," Padilla said of her Bison, which have played just five home games all season. "It's weird when we have a home series. I just think we're really comfortable being far away, and with a different crowd. We love it. We're used to it, so I think it helps in these kind of situations."
NDSU 102 001 0- 4 6 0
Tulsa 100 000 0- 1 2 2
Padilla and Cantrell. Lawrence and Timmons. W-Padilla (26-10). L-Lawrence (21-6). HR-NDSU, Rivera (1), Chmielewski (10).
Wednesday, November 12
Saturday, April 26
Monday, April 14
Saturday, April 12
