No. 3 NDSU knocks out No. 6 North Dakota
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Centerfielder Emilee Buringa racked up four RBI to lead third-seeded North Dakota State to a 5-2 victory over sixth-seeded North Dakota in the opening round of the Summit League Softball Championship Thursday.
After Cameryn Maykut put the Bison ahead 1-0 in the first with a RBI-groundout, Buringa put the game out of reach with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third.
The Fighting Hawks had their chances early to do some damage, but NDSU starter Lainey Lyle was able to limit UND to just an earned run over 3.1 innings of work despite yielding five hits and walking four batters.
UND left the bases loaded in both the second and third innings and stranded nine runners in the opening four frames, but were able to push through for a run in the fourth thanks to a RBI-double by shortstop Jocelyn Kirk. Paige Vargas would halt that Fighting Hawks' rally, however, relieving Lyle in the circle with one out and two runners on.
Buringa drew a bases loaded-walk in the bottom of the fourth to get that run back and extend NDSU's lead to 5-1. UND threatened one more in its last at-bat against Vargas getting back-to-back doubles by Lauren Feld and Cassie Castaneda to plate a run early in the seventh, but Vargas would retire the next three Fighting Hawks to secure her 15th win of the season.
Pitcher of Record
Win – Paige Vargas (15-9): 3.2 IP, 2 hits, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts
Loss - Jannay Jones (6-17): 2.0 IP, 2 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts
Notable Notes
• Emilee Buringa's third-inning home run was her seventh of the season - one shy of the team lead held by Reanna Rudd
• UND outhit NDSU 7-4 and left 12 runners on base
• Paige Vargas picked up the fourth tournament win of her career and avenged a loss in a rematch of this game from the 2021 tournament that UND won 6-5 in 10 innings
Up Next
With the 5-2 victory on Thursday, North Dakota State advances to play second-seeded Omaha on a date and time to-be-determined.
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