TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – North Dakota State softball fell to No. 6 Alabama 8-1 Friday night to open up the weekend series with the Crimson Tide at Rhodes Stadium.
 
The Bison took the lead in the top of the first inning. Amai Hanta started off the game with single and came around to score three batters later on a two-out RBI single from Mya Boos.
 
However, Alabama answered back in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with no outs to set up a walk for the first run and a sacrifice fly to take the lead 2-1. NDSU would limit the damage after that in the first, but an error allowed Alabama to score an unearned run in the second to go up 3-1.
 
After Jocelyn McClary tossed two scoreless innings in the third and fourth, Alabama led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run. Alabama would add a sacrifice fly later in the inning to extend the lead and then uses a two-out rally in the sixth inning to add three runs and extend the lead to 8-1.
 
Hanta, Boos and Star Cortez finished with hits for the Bison in the game. McClary allowed five runs on four hits in four innings of work. Addie Bowers allowed three runs of four hits in two innings of relief.
 
The Bison will wrap up the two-game series with Alabama on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Rhodes Stadium.