FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State softball team dropped a pair of 8-1 decisions to South Dakota State Saturday at Tharaldson Park.
 
The Bison (25-19, 7-6 Summit League) dropped a heartbreaker in a true pitching battle in game one. Both South Dakota State's (31-10, 12-2 Summit League) starter Grace Glanzer and North Dakota State's starter Paige Vargas were dominant into extra innings as they tossed eight scoreless innings to begin the game.
 
South Dakota State would take the lead in the top of the ninth with a solo home run. The Bison responded in the bottom half to extend the game, as Cameryn Maykut singled home Molly Gates from second to tie the game at 1-1.
 
However, South Dakota State would score seven runs in the top of the 10^th, which was suspended for more than two hours due to a tornado warning and lightning delays.
 
Paige Vargas allowed just the one run in the first eight innings on five hits with four strikeouts. She finished allowing eight earned. Maykut finished with two hits. Carley Goetschius, Gates and Ciara Jensen all had one hit.
 
Game two started out the same way as game one, as the pitchers dueled to a scoreless tie through the first five innings. South Dakota State would get two runs in the sixth inning to take the lead.
 
NDSU would answer back with one in the bottom of the sixth, but the Bison also stranded the bases loaded and the visitors capitalized on the momentum, scoring six in the top of the seventh to pull away.
 
Lainey Lyle picked up the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Nicole Licea had two hits and a walk and also had the RBI for NDSU. Maykut finished with two hits and Dez Cardenas had the final hit.
 
The Bison and SDSU are set to return to action on Sunday for the final game of the series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. at Tharaldson Park.