WILMINGTON, N.C. – North Dakota State softball split two games on Saturday, falling to Queens 3-0 in game one before a 5-2 victory over Northern Kentucky in the second game at Boseman Field.
 
In the first game, Queens jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first as a lead off single came around to score on a two-out base hit. They would add another two-out run in the second and a final run in the fourth.
 
The Bison would get two runners into scoring position with just one out in the third on an error and a walk, but failed to capitalize on their best scoring chance of the game. Reanna Rudd recorded the only Bison hit against Queens. Ava Chavarria and Rylee Henderson had walks for the Bison.
 
Piper Reed picked up the loss, allowing three runs on six hits in 3.1 innings. Madison Wihlm made her collegiate debut in relief, recording a strikeout against her first batter faced. She finished the final 3.2 innings scoreless, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
 
In game two, freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Dunford tossed a gem early in her first career appearance, pitching a scoreless game into the seventh before Northern Kentucky added two late runs. Dunford allowed just six hits and two unearned runs with one strikeout.
 
The Bison offense would reward Dunford in the sixth inning, as Emilee Buringa and Bella Dean had RBIs to give NDSU a 2-0 lead. In the seventh, Ella Claus tacked on some insurance runs as she hit a three-run home run down the right field line for her first career homer.
 
NDSU finished with 11 hits in the game. Seven different Bison had hits and all nine starters reached safely in the game. The offense was led by a three-hit performance from freshman Taylinn Warren. Claus and Rudd also had two hits each.
 
The Bison will wrap up the opening weekend with two games on Sunday, taking on DePaul at 9:50 a.m. CT, before facing the hosts, UNC Wilmington, in a game scheduled for a first pitch at 12:10 p.m. CT.