Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The North Dakota State softball team dropped a pair of games to the University of California Riverside in heartbreaking fashion, losing in walk offs 3-2 in eight innings and 9-7.
Game one turned into a pitching dual as the game remained scoreless into the bottom of the sixth inning. UCR (7-11) would get a two out single in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead.
However, the Bison (12-6) responded by loading the bases in the top of the seventh.
Reanna Rudd would drive in
Dez Cardenas to tie the game at one, but the Bison were unable to get another run across.
With the international tiebreaker in effect, the Bison would get
Faith Daehlin across home plate from second to take the lead after an RBI single from
Nicole Licea. However, the hosts would load the bases and tie the game at 2-2 with a single before a bases loaded walk to record the victory.
Savy Williams started for the Bison and tossed three scoreless innings.
Mac Schulz tossed four runs in relief.
Lainey Lyle pitched the final inning, allowing the winning run for the loss.
Molly Gates was the only Bison with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate.
In game two, the Bison jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first.
Emilee Buringa and Gates drew back-to-back walks to start the game, followed by back-to-back singles from Cardenas and
Cameryn Maykut to score Buringa to take the lead. Two batters later, Gates scored on a sacrifice fly from Rudd.
UC Riverside responded with three two-out doubles in the third to score four runs and take a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the fourth, the Bison would load the bases with one out, but only plated one run on a Maykut walk, which cut the deficit to 4-3.
The Bison would jump back in front with a two-RBI triple from Gates in the top of the fifth, scoring
Avery Wysong and
Skylar Padgett. Gates would then score on a wild pitch to make it a 6-4 Bison lead.
After UC Riverside responded with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game, Rudd put NDSU back in front with her fourth homer of the season, hitting a solo shot over the fence in left center.
However, it would be the hosts who would hit the pivotal home run in the bottom of the seventh, as a three-run shot gave the Highlanders back-to-back walk off victories.
Cardenas and Maykut both finished with two hits to lead the way offensively, while Gates, Maykut and Rudd each had two RBI. Schulz allowed the home run in the seven and picks up the loss in relief.
NDSU will return to action on Sunday, wrapping up the Amy S. Harrison Classic with a matchup against Oregon State. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. PT/12 p.m. CT.
