DELAND, Fla. – North Dakota State softball picked up a split on day two of the Hatter Classic, defeating Maine in a record-tying come-from-behind 9-5 victory, before falling to host Stetson 8-7 at Patricia Wilson Field.
 
NDSU started the day by matching a program record for largest come-from-behind victory, as the Bison stampeded back from a 5-0 deficit to defeat Maine.
 
Maine would break a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning, as they loaded the bases before a pair of walks to score the opening two runs. The Black Bears would then get a bases clearing double to go ahead 5-0.
 
The Bison wouldn't respond until the bottom of the fifth inning. Macy Fry led off the inning and Star Cortez followed it up with a walk. After Amai Hanta singled to load the bases, Bella Dean knocked in the first run on a grounder that forced an error at third. Zoe King then picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice to score Cortez.
 
Three batters later with the bases still loaded, Savannah Henzler hit an RBI single to left to score Hanta. Jessica Delatorre then put the Bison in front with a bases clearing triple, as NDSU took a 6-5 lead.
 
NDSU tacked on three more runs in the sixth, first off of a sacrifice bunt from King to score Cortez from third. Mya Boos then doubled home Bella Dean and Boos came around to score the final run on an RBI single from Lileigh Nieto.
 
Piper Reed picked up the win in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk in 3.1 innings of work, striking out five. Addie Bowers had three strikeouts in 3.2 innings, allowing all five runs on three hits and six walks.
 
The victory tied the NDSU record for largest comeback victory, the third time the Bison came back from a five-run deficit to win. The most recent was a 5-0 deficit after the top of the second inning on February 10, 2019 vs. Abilene Christian, as the Bison won 6-5 in San Marcos, Texas. The only other occurrence came in Summit League play on March 13, 2009 at Southern Utah, as NDSU trailed 5-0 after two innings and won 9-7.
 
In game two, the Bison broke the tie in the third as Ella Claus hit her first home run of the season with a solo shot. Later in the inning, Boos hit an RBI single to score Cortez.
 
Stetson would answer back with four runs over the third and fourth innings to take a 4-2 lead, but the Bison answered back with four runs in the top of the fifth. Boos started the scoring with an RBI double to score Dean. Later in the inning, Jessica Delatorre worked a bases loaded walk to tie the game and then Claus stepped in and roped a two-RBI double to put NDSU up 6-4.
 
However, Stetson would get four more runs over the next two innings, including three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Hanta would hit an RBI double in the top of the seventh to score Claus and get Bison to within one, but Hanta was stranded at second.
 
Reed picked up the loss, allowing only three unearned runs in two innings of relief. Madison Wihlm allowed five runs in four innings.
 
NDSU will wrap up the Hatter Classic on Saturday with a game against Maine. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT from Patricia Wilson Field.