MACOMB, Ill.  -  The Western Illinois softball team split its series opener with North Dakota State on Friday afternoon at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium.

The Westerwinds (20-16, 11-2 Summit League) took the first game of the doubleheader, 4-3, but dropped the second game to the Bison (24-14, 12-2 Summit League) by a score of 4-2.

Game 1: Western Illinois 4, North Dakota State 3

After being tied at three heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Erin Schlotfeldt hit an RBI double to right-center field to score the go ahead run to take a 4-3 lead. A one-run lead was all the Western defense needed to seal the deal as Kamren Ferguson (11-7) didn't allow a hit in the last two innings of play, giving the Westerwinds the eventual 4-3 victory.

The Bison were able to strike first in the game, scoring one run on a RBI single to left field that was set up by two Western errors in the top of the first.

The Westerwinds were able to regroup after allowing a run by scoring three of their own in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. After an unsuccessful Colleen Biebel bunt gave Western one out in the inning, Julie DePolo singled to center field to start the comeback. Jamie Goss hit an RBI double down the left-field line to score DePolo who slide into home plate to tie the game at one. After Lauren Furgala was hit by a pitch and Ashley Campbell grounded out to second base, Schlotfeldt hit a two-RBI single to give the Westerwinds a two-run lead.

In the top of the fifth, North Dakota State tied the game at three on a Western throwing error and a Bison sacrifice fly to left field.

The Western offense collected two more hits in the win (7-5), but committed one more error (3-2) and left two more runners stranded on base (7-5).

Schlotfeldt paced the offense as she went 2-for-3 at the plate while driving in three Western base runners. Goss added a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate performance and collected one RBI as well as scoring a run. Biebel and DePolo also chipped in with one hit each.

Ferguson picked up the win from the circle as she did not give up a single earned run and only allowed five hits in the complete-game performance.

Game 2: North Dakota State 4, Western Illinois 2

The Bison were able to score four runs in the top of the fifth inning on five hits and one Western error to take a 4-2 lead and never look back.

It looked as if the Westerwinds were going to comeback and take the lead in the bottom of the sixth as DePolo started the inning with a single up the middle. After a Goss fly out to center field, Furgala and Campbell were both walked to give Western the bases loaded with only one out. A Schlotfeldt pop up to the catcher and a Nikki Marinec fly out to right field ended the rally for the Westerwinds as the trailed 4-2 heading into the top of the seventh. 

Neither team could get the bats going until the bottom of the fourth inning when Western scored two runs on three hits and two errors. Down two outs in the inning, Furgala hit a double to center field to start the offense. Campbell then followed Furgala with a double of her own to left field, scoring the first run of the inning as the Bison left fielder misplayed the hit ball. Schlotfeldt hit an RBI single to left field to score Campbell for the second run of the inning.

Both offenses collected seven hits, but the Bison left one additional runner on base (6-5) and both defenses collected two errors in the contest.

Campbell led a group of seven Westerwinds who collected one hit in the loss and added one RBI and a run.

Lori Pankratz (4-7) got the start and took the loss from the circle, striking out five batters and allowing five hits in 4.1 innings of work. Campbell finished the last 2.2 innings of action, recording two strikeouts and only allowing two hits.

The third game of the conference series with the Bison will start at 12 p.m. on April 18 at Mary Ellen McKee Stadium. Pregame ceremonies for Western's two seniors, Tiffany Beard and Courtney Jacobson, is scheduled to begin 15 minutes prior to the start of the game.

Postgame quotes
Head coach Holly Van Vlymen

"I think our defense was a little shaky today and we definitely need to clean it before tomorrow's game."

"Credit to their pitcher for getting us to ground out a lot when we needed to get better hits off of her. North Dakota State is a great team, and with us both being at the top of the conference, we knew we were going to have great games today."

"I was proud the girls on how they overcame the two errors in the first inning of game one and left it behind them and went on to get the game one win."

On the pitching staff
"She (Kamren) threw a great game as she mixed up her speeds and kept the ball down. Lori (Pankratz) started off great in the second game and Ashley (Campbell) did a great job in relief. Overall, our pitchers did great toady other than the big fifth inning in the second game loss."