MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – North Dakota State softball picked up a doubleheader split with Wagner Saturday afternoon at the Gopher Indoor Classic, falling 9-6 in game one before scoring a season high in runs with a 12-6 win in the second game.
 
After three scoreless innings to start game one, Wagner broke the deadlock with three runs in the top of the fourth, scoring on an RBI single and a two-RBI double. The Seahawks would extend the lead in the fifth with a pair of RBI singles to go up 5-0.
 
The Bison would answer back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After a Macy Fry single, Star Cortez hit an RBI triple to score Fry. Cortez then scored a few batters later on a groundout from Jasmyn Yessian.
 
Wagner answered right back with a three-run sixth inning on a bases clearing double, followed by a sacrifice fly in the seventh to extend the lead to 9-2. The Bison would load the bases in the bottom of the seventh and Jessica Delatorre hit a two-RBI double. Two batters later, Rylee Henderson hit another two-RBI double, but the Bison would strand two in the inning and nine overall to fall 9-6.
 
Cortez, Bella Dean and Henderson had two hits each. Every Bison starter in the lineup reached safely on a hit or walk in the game. Madison Wihlm picked up the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in three innings of work.
 
In game two, the Bison took the lead straight away, as Zoe King hit an RBI single to score Amai Hanta in the top of the first. In the third, Yessian hit an RBI double and then was one of two runners to score on another double by Ella Claus to extend the lead to 4-0.
 
Wagner answered back with a run in the third and two in the fourth cutting the Bison lead to one, but NDSU would go up 6-3 with a sac fly from Claus. Following the sac fly, Yessian then stole home with a distraction from Chloe Woldruff trying to take second.
 
The Seahawks would score a run in the fourth, but NDSU answered back with another big inning that included an RBI single from Taylinn Warren, before a sacrifice fly from Henderson and a squeeze bunt from King to score Warren and give the Bison a 9-4 lead.
 
Following two more runs from Wagner, the Bison put the game out of reach with another three spot in the seventh. Hanta picked up a sacrifice fly RBI and then Henderson capped the scoring with a two-RBI single to go up by six.
 
Five Bison recorded two hits in the game and all nine starters recorded at least one hit. Seven different Bison had an RBI, with Claus leading the team with four. Henderson had three RBI and King finished with two.
 
Addie Bowers tossed the opening three innings, allowing three runs on four hits in a no decision. Kaitlyn Dunford tossed the final four innings, also allowing three runs. Both pitchers finished with one strikeout.
 
The Bison will wrap up the Gopher Indoor Classic on Sunday with a single game against host Minnesota. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. from U.S. Bank Stadium.