SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State softball picked up a pair of victories Saturday afternoon against South Dakota, winning 2-0 and 5-4 at Bowden Field to take the Summit League series.
Lainey Lyle (9-5) tossed her second-straight shutout to lead the Bison (23-13, 7-2 Summit League) to victory in game one. Lyle scattered five hits and had three strikeouts, as she reached a new high in consecutive scoreless innings at 16.1. Her previous pest was 15.1 in 2021. It is the second shutout for Lyle against South Dakota (17-17, 6-2 Summit League) and the first back-to-back shutouts of her career.
The Bison took the lead in the fourth inning, as
Reanna Rudd doubled to left center to bring in
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage.
Carley Goetschius would bring in the second run in the fifth inning, as she grounded into a fielder's choice on the right side, allowing
Skylar Padgett to score from third.
In game two, South Dakota took the lead in the second, capitalizing on an error. They would add another run in the third after another error in the inning, taking a 2-0 lead.
The Bison would score three in the bottom of the third to take the lead.
Emilee Buringa had an RBI triple down the line in right. She then scored with Goetschius on a two-RBI single from
Bella Dean later in the inning.
After South Dakota tied the game in the top of the fifth, Aguilar-Beaucage put NDSU back in front with a double to left center, scoring
Ava Chavarria. She then scored later in the inning on another RBI from Rudd with a single to right.
Paige Vargas (12-6) picked up the win in relief, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings. She finished with four strikeouts.
Piper Reed allowed two runs, one earned on two hits in two innings.
Aguilar-Beaucage reached safely in both games, extending her reached base streak to 12 games.
North Dakota State is set to return to action next week, taking on South Dakota State in Brookings on Saturday and Sunday. The series is slated for a noon doubleheader on Saturday and the series finale Sunday at 11 a.m.
