PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – North Dakota State softball dropped both games of a doubleheader against Ole Miss Monday afternoon at Nancy Almaraz Field, falling 8-0 and 5-3 to wrap up weekend one of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
In game one, the Rebels (4-2) would take the lead in the first inning with a two-out, two-run home run after a hit batter to start the inning. Ole Miss then added another run in the second inning with a solo home run before an error extended the inning, allowing for an unearned run to give the Rebels a 4-0 lead.
Ole Miss would score three runs in the third, capitalizing on another error for the final run to extend the lead.
The Bison (1-5) would load the bases on three walks in the fourth inning, but were unable to get a run across, stranding the bases loaded. The Rebels would then get the eighth run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly.
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage had the only hit of the game for the Bison and also had a walk, reaching in both of her plate appearances.
Piper Reed (0-1) picked up the loss. Reed and
Lainey Lyle each allowed four runs, three earned, with one strikeout.
After four scoreless innings to start game two, the Bison would take the lead in the top of the fifth. After an infield single from
Ella Claus and a walk from
Emilee Buringa, Carly Goetschius would give the Bison the lead with an RBI single to score Claus. In the next at bat, Aguilar-Beaucage would bring around Buringa and Goetschius with a two-RBI single, giving the Bison a 3-0 lead.
Ole Miss would respond immediately with a solo home run to start the bottom of the fifth, which broke up a perfect start from
Paige Vargas through the first four innings. The Rebels then scored two more runs in the inning to tie the game, capitalizing on two errors from the Bison.
The Rebels would take the lead in the sixth inning, loading the bases before a two-RBI single put Ole Miss in front, 5-3.
The Bison would out hit Ole Miss in the game 8-4. Both teams finished with three walks.
Paige Vargas (1-2) picked up the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, in six innings. She finished with four strikeouts.
Goetschius and Aguilar-Beaucage each finished with two hits in the second game.
The Bison will be off until Thursday, when NDSU takes on Sacramento State to begin the second weekend of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Nancy Almaraz Field.
