RALEIGH, N.C. – North Dakota State softball picked up a split on day one of the Marucci Classic hosted by North Carolina State. The Bison won 8-7 over Elon in an extra-inning comeback in game one, before falling to NC State 6-4 in game two.
With two outs in the eighth inning, NDSU loaded the bases for
Zoe King, who stepped up and hit a two-RBI single to put the Bison in front. Elon would score one run in the bottom of the eighth, but
Ava Chavarria would rob the tying home run with a catch over the fence in left for the final out of the game, giving the Bison the win.
The Bison took the lead in the third inning, as
Taylinn Warren scored on a
Reanna Rudd sacrifice fly. However, Elon would answer back in the bottom half of the inning, capitalizing on a two-out error to take the lead with two unearned runs scored on the play.
Emilee Buringa tied the game in the sixth, with her first home run of the season. Elon would again answer right back with its own solo home run in the bottom half. The Phoenix then capitalized on another Bison error, scoring three unearned runs to extend the lead to 6-2.
The Bison responded and forced extra innings with four runs in the seventh.
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage led off with her first home run of the season.
Bella Dean then singled and eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice. With two runners on and two outs, Buringa tied the game again with a double to the gap.
Buringa finished with three hits and joined King with three RBI. Dean was perfect at the plate with three hits, including two doubles, and two walks. Warren and King also had multiple hits. Eight different Bison scored the eight runs in the game.
Kaitlyn Dunford picked up the win in relief, going 2.1 innings with a run and a strikeout.
Piper Reed tossed the final out for the save.
Savy Williams started and went three innings, allowing two unearned runs.
In game two, the Bison jumped out to another lead, this time with a three-run home run in the top of the first. Dean singled and the Rudd walked to extend her reached base streak to 16 games. Freshman
Jasmyn Yessian then stepped in and smashed her second home run of the season over the fence in left.
NC State would hit a solo shot in the bottom of the first and then led off the second inning with another solo home run to cut into the Bison lead. In the bottom of the third, the Wolfpack hit back-to-back solo home runs to go in front.
After the Wolfpack extended their lead with runs in the fourth and fifth, NDSU pulled one run back in the sixth. Dean single, stole second and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Yessian.
Reed picked up the loss in relief, allowing four runs, three earned in two innings. Dean finished with two hits and two runs scored for the Bison. Yessian had all four RBI, a new career high for the freshman.
North Dakota State will return to action on Saturday with a second game against Elon at 8:30 a.m. CT, before taking on Campbell at 4 p.m. CT.
