SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The North Dakota State softball team dropped a pair of games on Saturday in day two of the Santa Barbara Campus Diamond Kickoff, falling to Utah State and host UC Santa Barbara.
 
The Bison (2-2) opened the day against Utah State (1-2), falling 6-4. North Dakota State took a lead in the bottom of the first as Dez Cardenas doubled home Molly Gates after Gates led off the inning with a double to center.
 
However, Utah State would respond with six runs in the top of the second after a bases clearing double and a two-run home run to highlight the inning for the Aggies.
 
NDSU would respond with two runs in the bottom of the second on an Emilee Buringa RBI groundout and a Gates sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 6-3. Gates would then add another sacrifice fly in the sixth but the Bison would be unable to get closer.
 
Savy Williams picked up the loss, allowing all six runs in 1.1 innings pitched. Mac Schulz pitched 5.2 innings of scoreless relief.
 
In game two of the day, the Bison fell 4-3 to host UC Santa Barbara (2-3). Again, NDSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as Avery Wysong double home Gates to open the scoring.
 
In the fourth, Nicole Licea hit a sacrifice fly to score Reanna Rudd and double the Bison lead. However, UCSB responded with a four-run fourth inning on three hits and an error to take the lead. All four runs proved to be unearned.
 
NDSU would add a run in the fifth on a Cardenas single that scored Buringa, but the Bison would be unable to level the game, stranding three base runners in the final three innings.
 
Paige Vargas picked up the hard luck loss as she did not allow an earned run on the afternoon, striking out four without allowing a walk.
 
The Bison will return to action on Sunday, taking on Utah State in the final game of the opening weekend. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT/9 a.m. PT.