PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – North Dakota State softball picked up a 2-1 win over Cal State Fullerton Saturday afternoon at Nancy Almaraz Field to close out the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge for the Bison.
 
Fresh off of an upset of No. 8/11 Tennessee in the game prior, RV Cal State Fullerton (5-4) jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first, as the Titans capitalized on three hits and an error to score a run.
 
However, the Bison (4-6) would answer right back with a run to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Carley Goetschius singled with one out and then moved to third on a double to right center from Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage. Reanna Rudd then stepped up and hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Goetschius.
 
Cal State Fullerton would get three hits in the second inning, threatening again, but Paige Vargas pitched out of the jam and settled into the game, retiring nine straight at one point with three strikeouts during the run.
 
The Bison would take the lead in the bottom of the third, once again off the bats of Goetschius and Aguilar-Beaucage. With two outs, Goetschius doubled off the base of the fence in left center and then came around to score on a single to center from Aguilar-Beaucage.
 
The Titans would get a baserunner on in the sixth and threatened to tie the game, but Emilee Buringa made a diving catch in left center to rob a base hit and end the inning.
 
North Dakota State would load the bases on a Reanna Rudd single, an error and then a walk in the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Bison would fail to add an insurance run.
 
However, Vargas would pick up two more strikeouts and a soft line out to end the game. Vargas improved to 3-2 on the season and finished with just one run against. After allowing six hits in the first two innings, she gave up just one hit the rest of the way and finished with six strikeouts and no walks.
 
Goetschius and Aguilar-Beaucage each had two hits with a single and a double. Goetschius also had a walk as she was not retired in the game. Bella Dean also had two hits for the Bison and Rudd finished with the seventh and final hit for NDSU.
 
The Bison wrap up the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge going 4-6. NDSU will head to Auburn, Alabama next, taking part in the Plainsman Invite with games against Merrimack, Brown and Auburn. The Bison will get the event underway against Merrimack on Friday, February 24 at 10 a.m. with a game against Brown to immediately follow.