Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – The North Dakota State softball team dropped games to #24 Oregon and Maryland in a pair of close battles Sunday at Nancy Almaraz Field in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The Bison fell late to Oregon 4-3, before dropping the matchup with Maryland 4-2.
 
In game one, the Bison fell behind Oregon in the bottom of the first, with the Ducks scoring one. However, the Bison would answer back in the third, as Carly Goetschius hit a double to center field to score Emilee Buringa to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Oregon would answer immediately as they retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the third, but the Bison were able to get out of a bases loaded jam without allowing the Ducks to extend the lead.
 
North Dakota State would respond though, scoring twice in the top of the fourth to take the lead. Following a single from Ava Chavarria, Kaylee Moore doubled down the line to score Chavarria and tie the game. Riley Leadstrom, pinch running for Moore, then scored on a bunt single from Skylar Padgett later in the inning to give the Bison a 3-2 lead.
 
Paige Vargas would be dominant for most of her relief appearance in the circle, as she limited the Ducks and had four strikeouts. However, Oregon would capitalize on a two-out infield single, as the Ducks hit a two-run home run in the next at bat in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead, 4-3, in the final scoring of the game.
 
Moore finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and a single. It was Moore's first three-hit game of her career and also the first two doubles of her career.
 
Vargas picked up the loss, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. Piper Reed, who started the game, allowed two runs on four hits with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of work.
 
In game two, Maryland would take the lead in the second inning on an RBI single with a runner on third. The Terps would load the bases, but Lainey Lyle pitched out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout.
 
Maryland would double its lead in the third after a triple set up a two-out single to make it 2-0. The Terps would then add two more in the fourth, the first on a double steal with runners on the corner and the second two batters later on a ground out.
 
The Bison would put together a rally in the sixth inning, as Buringa, Goetschius and Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage would have three-straight singles to load the bases. Reanna Rudd then delivered a two-RBI double to cut the Maryland lead in half, but the Bison would be unable to generate anymore offense, stranding runners at second and third.
 
North Dakota State will look to rebound on Monday with a doubleheader against Ole Miss. The Bison and Rebels will begin the doubleheader at noon at Nancy Almaraz Field to wrap up the first weekend of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.