LONG BEACH, Calif. – North Dakota State softball picked up a 5-2 victory Tuesday night over Long Beach State in non-conference action at the LBSU Softball Complex.
 
After Long Beach State took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, the Bison answered back with a four-run top of the second to take the lead. The Bison loaded the bases with two outs and Macy Fry ripped a three-run double to left center to put the Bison in front. Two batters later, Fry scored on an RBI single from Star Cortez
 
Long Beach State nearly answered back in the bottom of the second, putting two on. With two outs, Cortez robbed the tying home run from Lina Apodaca, pulling the ball back from beyond the wall in center field.
 
The Beach would get one run back in the bottom of the third, but Jocelyn McClary would get into a groove, retiring eight of the next nine batters. However, Long Beach State would load the bases with one out in the sixth, forcing a pitching change. Madison Wihlm entered the game and forced a pop out and ground out to get out of the jam.
 
NDSU would add an insurance run in the top of the seventh, as Cortez picked up her second RBI single of the night, scoring Fry for the second time, to extend the NDSU lead to 5-2. However, Wihlm would pick up a couple of strikeouts and a groundout in the seventh to secure the victory for NDSU.
 
Fry set a new career best with three RBI in the game, going 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored. Cortez finished 2-for-4 in the game. Taylinn Warren led the Bison with three hits, extending her hit streak to eight games.
 
McClary picked up her sixth win of the season, allowing two runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Wihlm tossed her second save of the season, going 1.2 scoreless innings with a strikeout.
 
NDSU will return to action on Wednesday, as the Bison travel to the east side of Los Angeles to take on UC Riverside. First pitch against the Highlanders is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.