OMAHA, Neb. – North Dakota State softball picked up their 200^th league victory in the Summit League era as the Bison completed a weekend sweep of Western Illinois with a 10-1 victory at Connie Claussen Field.
 
Western Illinois (7-28, 3-9 Summit League) would strike first as the Leathernecks plated a run in the top of the first inning, but the Bison (25-17, 7-4 Summit League) would answer back immediately with two in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Cameryn Maykut hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game and then Reanna Rudd hit an RBI single to centerfield.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Bison would score six in the third to take a commanding lead. Two runs would score when Dez Cardenas reached on an error. Carley Goetschius would then hit an RBI single to extend the Bison lead to 5-1.
 
Avery Wysong then picked up an RBI when she reached on an error. Nicole Licea followed it up with an RBI groundout and Skylar Padgett had a sacrifice fly RBI on a pop up into right center to cap off the scoring in the inning as the Bison took an 8-1 lead.
 
It would be more than enough run support for the Bison pitching staff, who held Western Illinois scoreless the rest of the way. Paige Vargas started the game and finished with the one run allowed on four hits in four innings of work. She improved to 13-8 on the season and finished the game with four strikeouts. Savy Williams tossed the final inning in the circle, allowing just a walk.
 
The Bison would add two more runs in the fourth inning to cap the scoring. Maykut picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to score Emilee Buringa. Rudd then stepped up and hit an RBI ground-rule double to straightaway center field for the final run of the game.
 
North Dakota State improved to 11-1 all time in neutral site league games in Omaha in the Summit League era. The Bison also picked up their seventh three-game series sweep of Western Illinois since 2008.
 
The victory also hit the 200-win milestone in league games for the Bison in the Summit League. The Bison are 200-61 all time in league play in the Summit League era.
 
North Dakota State will return to action next Saturday with a doubleheader against South Dakota State at Tharaldson Park. First pitch is set for noon.