FARGO, N.D.—North Dakota State jumped out to a 7-0 lead and didn't look back in downing South Dakota 14-3 in five innings in an elimination game Thursday at the Summit League Tournament.
The Bison (25-31) advanced in the loser's bracket and will play the loser of IUPUI and Western Illinois Friday. The Coyotes, which lost an 11-10 decision earlier in the day to top-seeded IUPUI, see their season end with a 22-32 record.
Vanessa Anderson hit a three-run homer in the top of the first and Stephanie Soriano added another three-run shot in the second to help North Dakota State build its lead. South Dakota got two back in the bottom of the second on an RBI groundout from
Taylor Steinfeldt and an RBI single by
Camille Fowler.
The lead stayed at five until the Bison added seven runs on six hits in the top of the fifth. Montana DeCamp put her mark on the game with a three-run homer to right centerfield. NDSU hit four home runs and racked up 16 hits in their five at bats.
Fowler and teammate
Jamie Holscher were both 2-for-2 with a walk off Bison pitcher KK Leddy. In three tournament games, Holscher was 6-for-9 with two walks, two doubles and six runs scored. Fowler, the Summit's Freshman of the Year, was 7-for-12 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored. The Coyotes scored 24 runs and batted .430 collectively during the tournament.