WILMINGTON, N.C. – North Dakota State softball recorded a pair of victories on Sunday to close out the opening weekend of the 2024 season. NDSU defeated DePaul 3-2 in the morning before topping host UNC Wilmington 5-1 in the afternoon.
The Bison fell behind quickly in game one, as DePaul hit back-to-back two-out home runs in the top of the first. However, that would be all that
Madison Wihlm and
Savy Williams would allow.
Taylinn Warren would get a run back for the Bison in the bottom of the first, scoring on a single and then rounding the bases on an error in center field. The Bison would then get out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth, as Williams forced a double play.
NDSU would then take the lead in the fifth inning.
Emilee Buringa started the inning with a bunt single and then the Bison capitalized on a DePaul error to put runners on second and third.
Reanna Rudd then hit a two-RBI single.
Williams picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings, scattering three hits. Rudd finished with two hits, while eight Bison in the lineup recorded a hit and all nine starters reached base safely.
After two scoreless innings to start game two, the Bison took the lead in the third and never looked back. Buringa scored the first run on a passed ball and then a throwing error. Later in the inning,
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage and
Jasmyn Yessian hit back-to-back RBI singles to give the Bison a 3-0 lead.
UNC Wilmington would score one run in the bottom of the third, but
Addie Bowers pitched out of the bases loaded jam. The Bison then responded in the fifth, as Aguilar-Beaucage singled and then Yessian stepped up and hit her first collegiate home run over the fence in left to put NDSU up 5-1.
Bowers completed the complete game victory for her first collegiate win. The freshman allowed just the one run on five hits with three strikeouts.
The Bison will return to action on Tuesday, as NDSU travels to Greenville, N.C. to take on East Carolina. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
