Friday, May 5
Fargo, N.D.
12 p.m.
North Dakota State Athletics
vs
Omaha
Photo by: Rick Claus
NDSU Closes Out Regular Season with Battle Against Omaha
5/4/2023 10:24:00 AM | Softball
FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State softball will close out the home schedule this weekend at Tharaldson Park hosting Omaha for a pivotal three-game Summit League series with seeding implications on the line. NDSU will host the Mavericks in a doubleheader on Friday at noon, with Senior Day set for Saturday at 11 a.m.
Tickets
All seating is general admission and tickets can be purchased at the gate on game day. Adult General Admission tickets are $10. Youth General Admission (3-17 yrs) tickets are $5. Gates will open at Tharaldson Park 60 minutes prior to game time. No pets or outside food or beverage are allowed in the complex.
On the Xtra
Friday's doubleheader will be televised across the state of North Dakota on WDAY Xtra. Dom Izzo will have the call with analyst duties being covered by Kaitlin Rolle.
Bison 1660
All three games in the series with Omaha will be on the radio, with the games being aired on Bison 1660 AM/92.7 FM. Micah Binde will have the call from Tharaldson Park.
Game Coverage
All three games are set to be streamed live on NDSU All-Access. The games will also have live stats provided. Links are provided on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.
The Series
North Dakota State holds a 30-44 record all time against Omaha, dating back to the first-ever meeting in 1978. However, in the Division I era, the Bison are 17-10 in the series, including a 9-2 mark in Fargo. Last season, Omaha took 2-of-3 in the regular season and the teams split two matchups in the Summit League Tournament.
Lyle Finding Groove in Circle
Lainey Lyle has allowed just two earned runs in league play this season. In the Summit League, the senior has tossed three complete game shutouts against Western Illinois, South Dakota and St. Thomas. In league play, Lyle is second in era (0.32) and shutouts (3), and fourth in wins (6), despite just six starts, ranked 10th in the league.
Dean Making Run at Freshman Honors
Bella Dean has made a splash in recent weeks, earning an everyday spot in the lineup. Dean has nine home runs in the last eight weeks, including seven in Summit League play, the top freshman and player overall for both in the league. In league play, Dean is also the top freshman in slugging percentage (.745), ops (1.112). She is the top player overall in home runs (7) and in runs batted in (26).
Dean has reached base safely in 11-straight games, going 12-for-33 during the stretch with three walks for a .417 obp. She has three home runs and a double (.667 slg) during the run, driving in 16 runs with four runs scored.
Vargas Among League Leaders in Circle
Paige Vargas ranks in the top three in nearly every major pitching category in the Summit League. Entering the week, Vargas leads the league in WHIP (1.04), second in wins (14), shutouts (5) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.50), and third in strikeouts (147) and batting average against (.202).
Goetschius Pacing Bison, Summit League at Plate
Carley Goetschius leads the Bison and the Summit League this season, hitting .380 with 14 doubles. She also leads the Summit League with 54 hits, .627 slg%, and the toughest to strike out at just one per 15.8 at bats (6.3%). Goetschius has also batted in and/or scored 64 of NDSU's 192 (33.3%) runs this season.
Buringa On Hot Streak, Set For 100th Straight Start
Emilee Buringa is set to make her 100th consecutive start in center field this weekend, entering the series with 99 consecutive games played and 98 consecutive starts. Buringa has been on a tear recently, with four multi-hit games in her last five. She is 10-for-16 (.625) during stretch with a home run, three doubles, seven RBI, seven runs, 1.000 slugging and a .684 obp.
Woldruff On Career Best Run
Chloe Woldruff has started the last seven in right field and had hits in six of the seven games, going 7-for-17 (.412) during the stretch with a double and her first career triple out of the nine spot in the lineup. She also added her first career stolen base and three RBI and five runs. She has three walks, adding to a .500 obp and is slugging .588.
Vargas Set for Start 100, Climbing NDSU Career Charts
Paige Vargas is on pace to make her 100th start of her career on Friday. She is seventh on the all-time NDSU list with 99 career starts. Last week, Vargas moved up to sixth on the all-time list with 126 appearances and 633.2 innings pitched. She is also seventh all-time in strikeouts at 530. She is eighth with 21 career shutouts and 60 wins. She is eighth with 5.85 strikeouts per game and is fifth with five career saves.
Tickets
All seating is general admission and tickets can be purchased at the gate on game day. Adult General Admission tickets are $10. Youth General Admission (3-17 yrs) tickets are $5. Gates will open at Tharaldson Park 60 minutes prior to game time. No pets or outside food or beverage are allowed in the complex.
On the Xtra
Friday's doubleheader will be televised across the state of North Dakota on WDAY Xtra. Dom Izzo will have the call with analyst duties being covered by Kaitlin Rolle.
Bison 1660
All three games in the series with Omaha will be on the radio, with the games being aired on Bison 1660 AM/92.7 FM. Micah Binde will have the call from Tharaldson Park.
Game Coverage
All three games are set to be streamed live on NDSU All-Access. The games will also have live stats provided. Links are provided on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.
The Series
North Dakota State holds a 30-44 record all time against Omaha, dating back to the first-ever meeting in 1978. However, in the Division I era, the Bison are 17-10 in the series, including a 9-2 mark in Fargo. Last season, Omaha took 2-of-3 in the regular season and the teams split two matchups in the Summit League Tournament.
Lyle Finding Groove in Circle
Lainey Lyle has allowed just two earned runs in league play this season. In the Summit League, the senior has tossed three complete game shutouts against Western Illinois, South Dakota and St. Thomas. In league play, Lyle is second in era (0.32) and shutouts (3), and fourth in wins (6), despite just six starts, ranked 10th in the league.
Dean Making Run at Freshman Honors
Bella Dean has made a splash in recent weeks, earning an everyday spot in the lineup. Dean has nine home runs in the last eight weeks, including seven in Summit League play, the top freshman and player overall for both in the league. In league play, Dean is also the top freshman in slugging percentage (.745), ops (1.112). She is the top player overall in home runs (7) and in runs batted in (26).
Dean has reached base safely in 11-straight games, going 12-for-33 during the stretch with three walks for a .417 obp. She has three home runs and a double (.667 slg) during the run, driving in 16 runs with four runs scored.
Vargas Among League Leaders in Circle
Paige Vargas ranks in the top three in nearly every major pitching category in the Summit League. Entering the week, Vargas leads the league in WHIP (1.04), second in wins (14), shutouts (5) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.50), and third in strikeouts (147) and batting average against (.202).
Goetschius Pacing Bison, Summit League at Plate
Carley Goetschius leads the Bison and the Summit League this season, hitting .380 with 14 doubles. She also leads the Summit League with 54 hits, .627 slg%, and the toughest to strike out at just one per 15.8 at bats (6.3%). Goetschius has also batted in and/or scored 64 of NDSU's 192 (33.3%) runs this season.
Buringa On Hot Streak, Set For 100th Straight Start
Emilee Buringa is set to make her 100th consecutive start in center field this weekend, entering the series with 99 consecutive games played and 98 consecutive starts. Buringa has been on a tear recently, with four multi-hit games in her last five. She is 10-for-16 (.625) during stretch with a home run, three doubles, seven RBI, seven runs, 1.000 slugging and a .684 obp.
Woldruff On Career Best Run
Chloe Woldruff has started the last seven in right field and had hits in six of the seven games, going 7-for-17 (.412) during the stretch with a double and her first career triple out of the nine spot in the lineup. She also added her first career stolen base and three RBI and five runs. She has three walks, adding to a .500 obp and is slugging .588.
Vargas Set for Start 100, Climbing NDSU Career Charts
Paige Vargas is on pace to make her 100th start of her career on Friday. She is seventh on the all-time NDSU list with 99 career starts. Last week, Vargas moved up to sixth on the all-time list with 126 appearances and 633.2 innings pitched. She is also seventh all-time in strikeouts at 530. She is eighth with 21 career shutouts and 60 wins. She is eighth with 5.85 strikeouts per game and is fifth with five career saves.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
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