GREENVILLE, N.C. – North Dakota State softball fell in a comeback from East Carolina on Tuesday night, falling to the Pirates 5-4 after the hosts scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to win in a walk off.
 
After three scoreless innings, Reanna Rudd gave the Bison (3-3) the lead, as she smashed her first home run of the season on a 1-0 pitch, sending the ball well over the fence in left field to lead off the top of the fourth. Rudd would finish the game going 3-for-4 at the plate, adding two singles.
 
The Bison would continue to generate offense in the inning, as Zoe King doubled off the fence later in the inning and her pinch runner, Riley Leadstrom, would later come around to score in a three-hit inning for NDSU to go up 2-0.
 
Savy Williams held the Pirates (7-0) scoreless into the fifth, before East Carolina plated a run on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. However, Williams forced a ground out to get out of the jam with the Bison leading 2-1.
 
The Bison would two runs to the lead in the top of the seventh inning. After Ella Claus picked up her second hit of the day, with a double off the top of the wall, Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Bella Dean then stepped in and ripped a two-RBI single to put the Bison up 4-1.
 
However, East Carolina would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh and scored their first run on a walk. The Pirates then walked off with the win after a bases clearing double by Anna Sawyer to score the winning run.
 
Williams picked up the loss, giving up all five runs in 6.2 innings. She finished with five strikeouts. The Bison stranded seven runners in the contest, and also had seven strikeouts at the plate.
 
The Bison will be back in action on Wednesday, traveling to Durham, N.C. to take on the #10 Duke Blue Devils. NDSU and Duke are set for a 4 p.m. first pitch at Duke Softball Stadium and the game will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.