FARGO, N.D. - After a 29-game non-conference swing to begin the season, North Dakota State softball turns its focus to the Summit League, as the Bison travel to Omaha for a three-game series to open up league play.
 
The Bison will face the defending co-champions of the regular season and the tournament champions over three days, with NDSU set to start the series with the Mavericks on Friday, March 20 with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Connie Claussen Field. Game two of the series is set for Saturday, March 21 with a first pitch slated for 2 p.m. The series finale will come on Sunday, with first pitch between the Bison and Omaha set for noon.
 
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, located on the Midco Sports Plus App, will be needed to view all games. All games will also include live statistics.  Game coverage links are available on the softball schedule page on gobison.com.
 
Series History
NDSU has played Omaha 84 times in the all-time series, dating back to the first-ever meeting on May 11, 1978 in the AIAW Region VI Tournament. The Bison trail in the all-time series, holding a 31-53 record against the Mavericks. Omaha won the first 22 meetings from 1978 to 1996.
 
However, in the Division I era, Omaha has only a slight advantage, leading the series 19-18. The Bison are just 4-14 against Omaha head coach Mike Heard since he took over the Mavericks in 2021, including Omaha winning the last seven meetings.
 
NDSU in Summit League Opening Weekends
In the 17 seasons NDSU has played in the Summit League, the Bison are 36-14 all-time on opening weekend of Summit League play.
 
Last season, the Bison went 2-1 on opening weekend at Kansas City, winning the opener 9-1, before taking the rubber match of the series 4-2. NDSU last opened league play at Omaha in 2024, dropping all three games of the series.
 
The Bison have never hosted a series on opening weekend in Fargo.
 
When The Lights Come On...
NDSU is 5-1 this season in night games, outscoring the opposition 33-20. Jocelyn McClary and Star Cortez have been dominant in night games for the Bison.
 
In the circle, McClary has made five appearances in night games, including three starts. The freshman has posted a 4-0 record with a 1.22 era. McClary has recorded two shutout victories as well, including a 2-0 win at North Florida, who has been receiving votes in the national polls all season, along with a 5-0 win at California Baptist, who also ranks in the Top 100 of the RPI.
 
In six games, Cortez is hitting .500, going 10-for-20 at the plate with a pair of doubles. She also has four walks, posting a .583 on-base percentage. Cortez also has two RBI and four runs scored and, in the field, has recorded 12 putouts and one outfield assist. Cortez also robbed a home run in one of the plays of the season so far for the Bison.
 
Star is Shining Bright
Junior Star Cortez has started every game the last two seasons, including earning all-league honors in 2025. Cortez picked up in 2026 right where she left off, leading NDSU at the plate, hitting .412 with 18 walks for a .504 obp and a .1.019 ops.
 
At UC Riverside, Cortez hit her first career home run. She has also added two triples, three doubles, 11 RBI and 25 runs scored, while stealing nine bases. In centerfield, Cortez has recorded five assists and also has 59 putouts with no errors.
 
Bison Streaks
Senior Bella Dean and junior Taylinn Warren saw their hit streaks reach double digits last week before coming to an end. Dean reached a career high 10 games and a few days later Warren reached a career high of 11 games. They were the 34th and 35th times a Bison reached double digit hitting steaks.
 
Star Cortez is currently on a 22-game reached base streak. During the run, she hit a career high seven-game hit streaks twice, along with a six-game run. Cortez's reached base streak is the longest since 2016 when Alyssa Reina (29), Logan Moreland (26) and Jackie Stifter (22) all reached 22.
 
Doubling Down
Through 29 games this season, NDSU has 51 doubles, 19th most in the NCAA and second most in the Summit League. In all of 2025, the Bison had just 44 doubles.
 
All 13 Bison to have a hit this season have at least one double, with Bella Dean leading with 12. Dean ranks 5th nationally in doubles and first in the Summit League this season.
 
Warren Steps Into Everyday Role
After spot starts and sharing time in the DP role, injuries allowed Taylinn Warren to slide into an everyday role at second base and the junior has been a key offensively and defensively.
 
At the plate, Warren is hitting .342 since moving into the lineup full time. She has 13 hits, including a triple with four RBI and four runs scored. Defensively, Warren has produced 29 putouts and also recorded 18 assists, without an error.
 
Rounding the Bases
The Bison have 18 home runs in 29 games this season after having just 13 home runs in all of 2025. Bella Dean leads the Bison with six home runs this season, with Mya Boos (4) and Zoe King (2) also having multiple home runs. Five Bison have hit their first career home runs this season, including Boos, Star Cortez, Macy Fry, Lileigh Nieto and Morgan Zimmerman.
 
Swiping Bags
Just past the halfway point of the season, NDSU leads the Summit League in stolen bases (35) and stolen bases per game (1.21). The Bison led the Summit League in stolen bases and stolen bases per game last season, swiping 43 bags and averaging .86 per contest.
 
Last Week
North Dakota State wrapped up the long stretch of non-conference games to begin the season, posting a 3-2 record in Southern California. The Bison started the week strong with a 5-2 win at Long Beach State and a 6-2 win at UC Riverside in midweek contests. NDSU then took one of three games in a weekend series at California Baptist. However, the Bison did not fall in regulation, dropping two 2-1 contests in nine and 10 innings. NDSU won the middle game 5-0.
 
Next Up
The Bison jump back into non-conference play with an abbreviated trip to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to face No. 4/6 Alabama in a two-game series. It will be the sixth and seventh all-time meetings with the Crimson Tide and the first since NDSU won 2-1 over #2 Alabama at the Easton Crimson Classic on March 5, 2016.