NDSU Softball Wraps North Carolina Trip with The Marucci Classic

Friday, February 16

Raleigh, N.C.

8:30 a.m.

North Dakota State

Elon

Photo by: Rick Claus

NDSU Softball Wraps North Carolina Trip with The Marucci Classic

2/15/2024 3:52:00 PM | Softball

NDSU Notes

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State softball will close a 12-game, 11-day trip in North Carolina with five games over three days at The Marucci Classic, hosted by NC State.

The Bison open up with Elon and host NC State on Friday, before another game against Elon and then Campbell on Saturday. The finale will come against UConn on Sunday morning.

Game Coverage
Friday's game against NC State will be streamed on ACC Network Extra. A subscription to ACCNX will be needed to view the game. All five games will also include live statistics. Links to the stream and stats will be available on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.

North Carolina Bound to Open the Year
For the first time in the program's 49-year history, the Bison are opening up the season in the state of North Carolina, staying for 10 days and 12 games overall. It's the 21st state, plus Mexico, that NDSU has played in to begin the year.

It is the sixth trip overall for the Bison in the Tar Heel state, but the first since 2018 when NDSU made the trip for the Duke Inaugural Tournament.

Heading into The Marucci Classic, the Bison have played 36 games in North Carolina, with NDSU holding a 25-11 record overall, including a 15-10 record in the Division I era.

The Series (Elon)
This week's games with the Phoenix will be the third and fourth all-time meetings between NDSU and Elon. The teams met on March 15, 2005 in NDSU's first season in Division I, with the teams splitting a doubleheader at Elon. The Bison fell in game one, 3-1, before winning the second game 5-0.

The Series (NC State)
The Bison have also faced NC State just two times in program history, with the games coming in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. NDSU fell to the Wolfpack 6-2 at the USF La Quinta Inn and Suites Tournament in Tampa, Fla. on February 19, 2010. NC State then won 10-2 at the Georgia Softball Classic in Athens, Ga. on February 18, 2011.

The Series (Campbell)
NDSU will take on Campbell for just the second time in program history. Campbell won the only meeting in extra innings, defeating the Bison 7-3 in eight innings at the Stanford Classic in Palo Alto, Calif. on March 8, 2008.

The Series (UConn)
The Bison will face UConn for the first time on the softball diamond.

Rudd On Career Best Run
Senior Reanna Rudd has started off the season hot at the plate with three multi-hit games, as well as a multi-RBI game. She hit her 10th career home run at East Carolina and also drove in the winning run in a 3-2 win over DePaul. Rudd also drew three walks at the plate over the opening weekend and has reached base safely in all seven games.

Rudd closed the '23 season reaching safely in seven-straight games and now enters the weekend having reached safely in 14 overall dating back to last season. The mark sets a new personal best, having previously reached in 10-straight games earlier last season.

Claus, Yessian Hit First Career Dingers
Sophomore Ella Claus and freshman Jasmyn Yessian hit their first collegiate home runs over the opening weekend. Claus hit a three-run shot down the right field line in the top of the seventh, in what proved to be the winning runs of a 5-2 victory over Northern Kentucky.

Yessian, making her fourth career start against UNC Wilmington, tacked on some insurance in a 5-1 victory, as she hit a two-run shot over the fence in left.

Claus Has Career Day, Pacing Bison Early
Sophomore Ella Claus had a career day in the win over Northern Kentucky, setting four personal single-game bests in a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a home run, walk and three RBI. Along with it being her first career home run, Claus matched a career best two-hit performance, matched reaching safely three times in a game, and also set a mark with three RBI.

Claus leads the Bison through seven games in batting average (.500), RBI (3), on-base percentage (.545), slugging percentage (.900) and ops (1.445).

Speedy Bison Swiping Bags
North Dakota State has been aggressive on the base paths over the opening week, stealing seven bases, going 7-for-9 overall. Senior Emilee Buringa has led the charge for the Bison, going 3-for-3.

Freshman Taylinn Warren (2-for-2) and Star Cortez (1-for-1) also joined the mix, along with sophomore Riley Leadstrom (1-for-1).

Buringa On Iron Woman Run
Senior Emilee Buringa made her 100th consecutive start in center field in the final home series last season. She enters the weekend having started in 111 straight games in center field, starting every game for the Bison in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Buringa has played in 140 career games for the Bison, with 129 starts.

Aguilar-Beaucage Matches Career Best Day for Hits
After a slow start over the first four games, Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage found her hitting form in the win against UNC Wilmington, with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a RBI and run scored. The three-hit performance matched a career high for a single game for the senior, a feat she has now down four times.

Spring on the Road, the Bison Way
North Dakota State softball is scheduled to play the first 35 games of the season on the road, traveling to six different tournaments/invitationals in four different states, along with three midweek non-conference games.

The non-conference swing includes two 11-day trips to North Carolina and California and will see over 10,000 flight miles. Last year, after moving the first home series due to snow, the Bison played 42 games away from home before their first pitch at Tharaldson Park on April 29.

Bison Return Four All-Summit League Honorees
The Bison had seven all-league recipients last season in the Summit League and bring back four ahead of the 2024 season. Senior Emilee Buringa is the lone returning first-team all-Summit League selection, but NDSU brings back sophomore Bella Dean and senior Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage from the second team, as well as honorable mention junior Chloe Woldruff.

Bison Picked Fourth In Summit League
North Dakota State was picked to finish fourth in The Summit League in 2024 in a preseason poll of the league's seven head coaches. NDSU had received 22 points in the poll, two behind South Dakota (24) in third. South Dakota State had 34 points and four-first-place votes, edging out Omaha, who had 33 and the other three first-place votes. North Dakota (14), Kansas City (10) and St. Thomas (10) rounded out the poll. The Bison have won five regular season crowns and lifted six league tournament titles in the last decade.

Buringa, Aguilar-Beaucage Tabbed Summit League Players to Watch
Seniors Emilee Buringa and Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage were named among 14 players to watch by the Summit League ahead of the season.

Buringa was named to the All-Summit League first team last year after starting all 51 games in center field with 41 hits in 148 at-bats (.277). She recorded 11 multi-hit games, and had seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 20 walks for a .397 on-base percentage and.432 slugging percentage.

Aguilar-Beaucage was named to last season's All-Summit League Second Team after 50 starts. She had 44 hits in 148 at-bats (.297), recorded 11 multi-hit games and totaled 74 bases for a .500 slugging percentage. She hit 10 doubles, one triple, and six home runs. She finished with a 13 walks and a.364 on-base percentage.