NDSU Softball Wraps California Trip at Pacific, Saint Mary's Tournament

Tuesday, March 12

Stockton, Calif.

4 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

Pacific

Photo by: Rick Claus

NDSU Softball Wraps California Trip at Pacific, Saint Mary's Tournament

3/12/2024 12:54:00 PM | Softball

NDSU Notes

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State softball wraps up a 10-game, 10-day trip to California with a midweek game at Pacific before making a trip to Moraga for the Saint Mary's Tournament. The Bison will face the Tigers on Tuesday and then begin the weekend with a game against Marist and then Saint Mary's on Friday. The Bison will then close the trip with Marist and Saint Mary's again on Saturday.

Game Coverage
Tuesday's game at Pacific and both games against Saint Mary's on Friday and on Saturday will be streamed on ESPN+. A subscription to ESPN+ will be needed to view the games. All five games will also include live statistics. Links to the streams and stats will be available on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.

California, the Second Home of the Bison
The Bison remain in the Golden State, having played in 116 games in California since the first trip in 2006. It is the second most in the Div. I era, behind only North Dakota (139 in regular season, 173 total). In the 15 years NDSU has made a trip to California prior to '24, the Bison average 7.4 games per season in the state. NDSU averages 7.72 regular season games at home in the span and 9.61 overall. The Bison roster is also full of California natives, with nine of the 19 current players calling California home before coming to Fargo. The Bison hold a 61-55 record in the state all-time. NDSU is also very familiar with the Bay Area, with over 40 games played in the area and NDSU is 5-0 in nearby Stockton, where they will visit Pacific.

The Series (Pacific)
North Dakota State will face Pacific for the fourth time in program history on Tuesday, with the Bison holding a 2-1 series advantage dating back to the first meeting on February 27, 2015, an 8-2 win for NDSU at the Pacific Invitational. The Bison won the next day as well, claiming a 5-1 win over the Tigers. However, Pacific won the last meeting between the two programs, claiming a 2-1 victory on February 11, 2017 at the Cal State Fullerton Easton Invitational.

The Series (Marist)
The Bison will face Marist twice this weekend, but it will be the first time on the softball diamond when the teams meet on Friday.

The Series (Saint Mary's)
NDSU faces Saint Mary's for the sixth and seventh time in series history this weekend, with the Bison holding a perfect 5-0 record against the Gaels all time. However, the two teams have not met since 2016. The Bison claimed a 5-2 win over Saint Mary's at the Nevada Wolfpack Tournament on March 31, 2006 in the first-ever meeting. NDSU then swept a doubleheader at SMC on March 5, 2008, winning 9-4 and 1-0. The Bison last met the Gaels at the Stanford Nike Invitational, claiming a 5-1 win on February 19, 2016, before shutting out Saint Mary's 8-0 in five innings a day later.

Speedy Bison Swiping Bags
North Dakota State has been aggressive on the base paths over the opening few weeks, stealing 29 bags already, including a perfect 8-for-8 weekend at the Silicon Valley Classic. 29 stolen bases leads in the Summit League, while 29-for-36 (.806) overall is up from a 37-for-53 (.698) campaign last year.

Program Win 1250
With North Dakota State's 3-1 win over UConn in North Carolina, the Bison picked up win 1250 all-time in the program's history. NDSU has 613 wins in the Division I era and 740 wins in Darren Mueller's tenure as head coach of the Bison.

Yessian Throwing Out Baserunners
Freshman Jasmyn Yessian has caught five base runners attempting to steal so far this season, which ranks third in the Summit League and 57th overall nationally.

Home Run Numbers Up from '23
Through the first five weeks of the season, the Bison have hit 17 home runs, led by Bella Dean with six. Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage has three and three other Bison have a pair of home runs. In total, seven Bison have hit homers. Through the opening five weeks of the season last year, NDSU had just 13 home runs, before finishing with 29. Dean leads the Summit League with six home runs and ranks 59th nationally.

Rudd Proving to be Tough Out
Senior Reanna Rudd is off to a strong start to the '24 campaign, with a .388 on-base percentage. Rudd already has two home runs, matching all of the '23 season. But Rudd has also been good at putting the ball in play with just three strikeouts in 71 official at bats, which ranks at the top of the Summit League and 49th nationally.

Buringa On Iron Woman Run
Senior Emilee Buringa made her 150th appearance for the Bison earlier this season and continues her run of consecutive games started, entering the week having started in 131-straight games in center field, starting every game for the Bison in the '22, '23 and now '24 seasons. Buringa has played in 160 career games for the Bison, with 149 starts.

Peak Performer Sweep
Sophomore infielder Bella Dean and freshman pitcher Madison Wihlm swept the Summit League TicketSmarter Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, last week after dominating weekends in Nashville at the Purple/Gold Challenge. Dean hit four home runs with 11 RBI and five runs scored. Wihlm posted a 2-0 record with a 0.56 era, allowing just four hits with nine strikeouts. It was Dean's second honor of the season and the first NDSU sweep of the awards since March of last season.