CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Paige Vargas tossed a two-hit shutout and Reanna Rudd homered to lead the Bison past the University of Virginia 2-0 Tuesday night at Palmer Park.
 
Vargas would start strong as she was perfect through the first three innings against the Cavaliers (15-11). Vargas had just one ball leave the infield in the first three innings, recording four strikeouts and four ground outs.
 
The Bison (14-12) offense would get runners to second in the second and third innings, but were unable to capitalize.
 
However, Cameryn Maykut would single to lead off the fourth inning and two batters later, Rudd gave the Bison the lead. Rudd hit the first pitch she faced over the fence in left center for her team-leading fifth homer of the season, giving NDSU a 2-0 lead.
 
The runs support would be more than enough for Vargas, as Virginia only recorded two hits and a walk the rest of the way. The Cavaliers got two runners on in the fourth with a single and a walk, and one runner on in the fifth with a lead off single, but Vargas retired the final nine batters she faced for her second complete-game shutout of the season.
 
Vargas finished the game with seven strikeouts, the sixth time she has reached that mark this season. The Bison are 6-0 this season when Vargas gets at least seven strikeouts.
 
Vargas recorded her 13^th shutout of her career. It's the fourth shutout of the season for NDSU after just three shutouts all of last season.
 
Maykut finished with two hits in the game, the fifth multi-hit game of the season for the senior. Rudd had her sixth multi-RBI game of the season.
 
NDSU will return to action on Friday with the first day of the Capital City Classic in College Park, Md. The Bison will face Binghamton and host Maryland to open up the event, beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT.