VERMILLION, S.D. – North Dakota State softball opened up its Summit League series at South Dakota on Friday with a 4-1 victory over the Coyotes at Nygaard Field.
 
Jocelyn McClary led the Bison early in a pitcher's duel, recording four strikeouts over the first two innings, before Bella Dean gave the Bison the lead in the top of the third with a bases-clearing double.
 
Ella Claus started the two-out rally in the third inning with a double to the fence in right center. Amai Hanta and Star Cortez then earned walks to lead the bases for Dean, who recorded her ninth multi-RBI game of the season with her team-leading 13^th double.
 
South Dakota would score their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly and McClary held the Coyotes to just four hits with six total strikeouts for her eighth win of the season.
 
The Bison would add the final run in the seventh, as Lileigh Nieto doubled and then later scored on a single from Claus, who recorded her third multi-hit game of the season.
 
North Dakota State will take on South Dakota in game two of the series on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Nygaard Field.