BROOKINGS, S.D. – After multiple weather delays and a suspension on Wednesday evening, third-seeded North Dakota State advanced to the double-elimination portion of the Summit League Softball Championship with a 3-0 win against No. 6 seed Kansas City at Jackrabbit Softball Stadium.
 
The Bison scored their initial run in the bottom of the first inning when All-League second teamer Bella Dean registered her team-leading 36^th RBI of the season with a hit through the left side to bring home Carley Goetschius.
 
After a pair of Roo runners reached first and second with two outs, All-League pitcher Paige Vargas of NDSU got out of the second inning with a key strikeout to keep her team ahead 1-0. The bottom of the fourth inning saw the Bison double their advantage when pinch hitter Zoe King delivered an RBI single through the left side.
 
A lightning delay forced suspension of play for just over an hour before Kansas City put together its best chance to score in the top of the fifth. The Roos put the first two batters on with a walk and a single before and they moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Kiki McCreak. Vargas was able to get out of the jam, however, inducing a flyout to left field and finishing the frame off with a strikeout of Ally Vonfeldt.
 
NDSU tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth taking advantage of a Kansas City error to make it a 3-0 contest. Kaylee Moore was credited with the RBI on a fielder's choice.
 
Vargas ended the contest retiring three of the four batters she faced in the seventh to post her 16^th complete game and sixth shutout of the season.
 
Pitcher of Record
Win – Paige Vargas (16-10): 7.0 IP, 5 hits, 0 earned runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
Loss – Katie Noble (3-14): 6.0 IP, 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, two strikeouts

Notable Notes
• Paige Vargas captured her 16^th win of the season, tossing a five-hit shutout that included five strikeouts
• This will be NDSU’s second straight trip to the double-elimination portion of the championship and second straight year where they will face Omaha
• Six different Bison notched at least one hit with Carley Goetschius leading the pack with two
• Kansas City’s Lexy Smith posted three of the Roos’ five hits in the game

Up Next
With the 3-0 victory on Thursday, NDSU advances to face No. 2 Omaha later this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT in the second winner’s bracket game.

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