NDSU Softball Opens Up League Play at Omaha

Friday, March 22

Omaha, Neb.

1 p.m.

North Dakota State Athletics

Omaha

Photo by: Rick Claus

NDSU Softball Opens Up League Play at Omaha

3/21/2024 5:55:00 PM | Softball

NDSU Notes

FARGO, N.D. - North Dakota State softball opens up Summit League play this weekend with a trip to Omaha, Nebraska to take on the Omaha Mavericks in a three-game series at Connie Claussen Field. The series, which was moved up a day due to impending weather, will begin with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Friday, before the final game of the series Saturday, which is set for 1 p.m.

Game Coverage
All three games of the series between the Bison and Mavericks will be streamed live on The Summit League Network. A subscription to the Summit League Network will be needed to view the games. All three games will also include live statistics. Links to the streams and stats will be available on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.

The Series (Omaha)
North Dakota State softball has faced Omaha 78 times in program history heading into Friday's doubleheader. The Bison trail in the series 47-31, including a 1-3 record against the Mavericks last season. Omaha has won 8 of the last 11 overall in the series, turning the momentum in the series after NDSU had won 15 of 20 meetings since Omaha joined the Summit League in 2014.

The Last Time in Omaha Against the Mavs
Omaha took two of three in the series against the Bison on April 2-3 in 2022. Omaha claimed a 4-0 win in the series opener. However, the Bison responded with a 7-2 win over the Mavericks in the second game of the doubleheader, scoring seven unanswered runs, including three late home runs. In the rubber match of the series, Omaha scored an unearned run in the first inning for the only run of the game in a 1-0 victory.

Spring on the Road, the Bison Way
North Dakota State softball is wrapping up a 35-game span on the road to begin the season this weekend in Omaha. The Bison have traveled to six different tournaments/invitationals in four different states, along with three midweek non-conference games. The non-conference swing included two 10+ day trips to North Carolina and California. 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.

The Bison in Omaha
NDSU has played the Mavericks 26 times in Omaha, holding an 11-15 record overall. However, the Bison have played more than 80 games in the city in the program's history and boast a winning record of 49-37 all-time in Omaha, including a 21-13 record in the division I era since 2005.

Home Run Numbers Up from '23
Through the first five weeks of the season, the Bison have hit 19 home runs, led by Bella Dean with six. Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage has four and three other Bison have a pair of home runs. In total, eight Bison have hit homers. Through the non-conference season in 2023 before league play began, NDSU had just 13 home runs. NDSU had 16 in league play and finished with 29. Dean is third in the Summit League in home runs, just one behind the league leaders.

Buringa Leads League in Stolen Bases
Senior Emilee Buringa has 10 stolen bases so far this season, going 10-for-11 in attempts this season. Buringa's 10 stolen bases not only leads the Bison, but also leads the Summit League- headed into the start of league play.

Chavarria Hits First Home Run
Sophomore outfielder Ava Chavarria hit her first career home run last week, with a solo shot against Marist at the Saint Mary's Tournament. Chavarria became the fourth different Bison to hit their first home run this season, joining fellow sophomore's Ella Claus and Zoe King, and freshman Jasmyn Yessian.

Williams Tosses First Career Shutout
Savy Williams recorded her first career shutout last weekend at the Saint Mary's Tournament, leading the Bison to a 2-0 victory over Marist. Williams scattered four hits and also tossed a career high six strikeouts in the victory, recording the first shutout of the season for the Bison.

Speedy Bison Swiping Bags
North Dakota State has been aggressive on the base paths over the opening few weeks, stealing 32 bags already, including a perfect 11-for-11 week in California at the Silicon Valley Classic, Pacific and Saint Mary's Tournament. The Bison's 32 stolen bases leads in the Summit League, while 32-for-39 (.821) overall is up from a 37-for-53 (.698) campaign last year.

Fry Finding Success in Pinch-Hit Role
Freshman Macy Fry picked up her first career hit in California against Loyola Marymount, hitting a triple. Since then, Fry has had two pinch hit opportunities and has successfully reached with a pair of singles. Fry is 2-for-4 in pinch-hit opportunities this season, while NDSU is 3-for-15 as a team.

Yessian Throwing Out Base Runners
Freshman Jasmyn Yessian has caught five base runners attempting to steal so far this season, which ranks fourth in the Summit League and 97th overall nationally.

Rudd Proving to be Tough Out
Senior Reanna Rudd is off to a strong start to the '24 campaign, with a .382 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 four strikeouts in 75 official at bats (.053), which ranks at the top of the Summit League.

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 136-straight games in center field, starting every game for the Bison in the '22, '23 and now '24 seasons. Buringa has played in 165 career games for the Bison, with 154 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, after a dominating weekend in Nashville at the Purple/Gold Challenge earlier this season. 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.

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.

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.