ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – North Dakota State softball split games on Saturday at the Lobo Classic, falling to UTEP 9-8 before defeating Tarleton 8-4 at the Lobo Softball Field.
 
The Bison (9-4) took an early lead against UTEP (7-8) but fell behind the Miners and were unable to rally despite getting the go-ahead run on base in the bottom of the seventh.
 
After UTEP scored an unearned run in the first, the Bison responded with an RBI double from Avery Wysong in the bottom half to score Dez Cardenas and tie the game.
 
NDSU then plated four runs in the second inning, only for UTEP to respond with a six-run top of the third. UTEP would then extend their lead to 9-5 in the top of the sixth.
 
Nicole Licea started a comeback effort for the Bison in the bottom of the sixth with a two-RBI single to score Chloe Woldruff and Carley Goetschius.
 
The Bison would get another run in the seventh as Cardenas hit an RBI single to score Molly Gates and cut the deficit to 9-8. NDSU would get another base runner in the inning, but was unable to get the tying run across.
 
Savy Williams picked up the loss, allowing seven earned runs with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Mac Schulz pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief with a strikeout and no base runners allowed.
 
Five Bison had two hits in the game, led by Licea who was 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBIs and a run scored.
 
In game two against Tarleton (11-2), the Bison fell behind early as the Texans jumped out to a 3-0 lead heading to the bottom of the third.
 
North Dakota State got on the scoreboard with a two-RBI single by Wysong, scoring Emilee Buringa and Licea to cut the deficit to 3-2.
 
Following a run from Tarleton in the top of the fourth, NDSU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with two runs, the first on a ball in play by Buringa and the second on and RBI single from Molly Gates.
 
Buringa would then give the Bison the lead in the fifth with a two-RBI single to score Reanna Rudd and Cameryn Maykut.
 
Rudd would cap off the scoring in the sixth with a two-RBI single of her own to score Goetschius and Maykut.
 
Paige Vargas improved to 5-1 on the season as she allowed just two earned runs in a complete game with seven strikeouts.
 
Licea capped a perfect day at the plate, as she was 1-for-1 with two walks and a hit by pitch. On the day she finished 3-for-3 with four walks and a hit by pitch. She scored three total runs.
 
The Bison are set to take on Tarleton again on Sunday with the final game of the Lobo Classic for NDSU. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.