RALEIGH, N.C. – North Dakota State softball closed out the Marucci Classic on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Connecticut, as Piper Reed tossed a career high nine strikeouts in the victory.
 
Reed would hold the Huskies (4-7) to just one run over 6.2 innings of work. The sophomore finished smashed her previous career high of four strikeouts in the game and did not allow a walk or a hit batter.
 
The Bison (6-6) and Huskies battled in a pitching duel early, as NDSU was held to just one hit over the first four innings. Reed matched UConn, recording seven of her strikeouts through four frames, including all three outs in the fourth. However, UConn struck first in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run by Jana Sanden to take the lead.
 
The Bison responded immediately in the sixth, scoring three runs on three hits. Reanna Rudd dropped a bunt single with runners on the corners to score Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage from third. On a throwing error from the pitcher after Rudd's single, Bella Dean took home for the Bison lead. Two batters later, King batted home Rudd to give the Bison a 3-1 lead.
 
Six different Bison recorded hits in the game, including doubles from Taylinn Warren, King and Jasmyn Yessian. Savy Williams tossed the final out.
 
NDSU will return to Fargo before taking a trip to College Station, Texas for the Texas A&M Invitational next weekend. The Bison are slated to play Texas A&M and Kansas twice over three days, but will lead off the weekend with a match up against Southeastern Louisiana on Friday, February 23 at 2 p.m.