RIVERSIDE, Calif. – North Dakota State softball picked up a pair of wins on Friday at John C. Funk Stadium, defeating Cal State Northridge and California Baptist to open up the Amy S. Harrison Classic.
Despite a season low in runs (2) and hits (3), North Dakota State started off the day with a victory over Cal State Northridge (7-9), defeating the Matadors 2-1.
The Bison got off to a hot start to begin the day as
Emilee Buringa led the game off with a triple to center field. Two batters later, Buringa scored on an RBI fielder's choice from
Dez Cardenas to put NDSU ahead 1-0.
After Cardenas stole second,
Cameryn Maykut doubled to left to bring Cardenas home with what proved to be the winning run.
Paige Vargas then went to work in the circle and picked up three of her nine strikeouts on the game in the bottom of the first. CSUN would get a run back in the third, capitalizing on an error to score an unearned run.
The single run in the third would be the only blemish of the game for the Bison defense, as Vargas scattered four hits and two walks for the complete game victory, as she improved to 5-1 on the season.
The Bison offense would get rolling in game two of the day, as NDSU defeated host California Baptist (10-9) 9-4.
NDSU started game two with early offense as well, scoring a run in the top of the first as Cardenas doubled to left center to bring around
Molly Gates from first.
Reanna Rudd singled to lead off the second inning and then
Skylar Padgett reached on a one out walk before Buringa hit a two-RBI double to center to extend the Bison lead to 3-0.
California Baptist would answer back in the bottom of the second, as Tiana Patrick hit a three-run homerun to tie the game.
The Bison answered right back in the top of the third as
Carley Goetschius hit an RBI double to left scoring Cardenas to put NDSU back in front 4-3. In the next at bat, Rudd picked up two RBI as she singled to right center, scoring Maykut and Goetschius to restore a three-run Bison lead.
However, NDSU wasn't finished in the inning, as
Avery Wysong worked a walk and then Rudd and Wysong came around to score when Buringa hit her third homerun of the season to extend the Bison lead to 9-3.
Buringa finished the game with a career high five RBIs.
The early offense would be more than enough, as
Mac Schulz and then
Lainey Lyle in relief allowed just one run the rest of the way.
Schulz tossed the first three innings, allowing three runs with two strikeouts. Lyle retired the first 11 she faced before allowing a solo home run in the seventh. She finished with four strikeouts and picked up the victory, her first of the season in three relief appearances.
The Bison will be back in action on Saturday, taking on the University of California Riverside in a doubleheader at UCR and Amy S. Harrison Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT/11 a.m. PT.
