Bison defeat Leathernecks, 3-2, in championship finale

FARGO, N.D. - The Fighting Leathernecks rallied back to tie the game at two in the seventh inning, but fell to North Dakota State, 3-2, in the championship game of The Summit League Tournament on Saturday, May 15.

Tied at two in the bottom of the seventh, Laurel Pipkin hit an RBI single to left center to score Elisa Victa and give the Bison (33-23) their second consecutive tournament title.

North Dakota State got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a Melissa Chmielewski RBI.

Western (35-19) tied the game at one in the top of the third inning on a solo home run by senior Lori Pankratz.

The Bison tacked on another run to push their lead to one (2-1) in the bottom of the third on a Brea Konz RBI single to center field.

Erin Schlotfeldt hit a solo home run to left field to tie the game at two in the top of the seventh to send the game to the bottom frame of the inning.

The Bison out hit the Leathernecks by three (9-6) and left three more runners on base (8-5) than Western. Both teams committed two errors in the contest.

Pankratz led Western from the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.

Kamren Ferguson (22-12) took the loss in the circle, striking out two and walking two.

Julie DePolo, Ferguson, Lauren Furgala and Pankratz were all named to the Summit League Tournament Team in their final game with the Purple and Gold.

Western finishes its season with a 35-19 overall record and 19-2 mark in conference action.

Summit League Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Laurel Pipkin, North Dakota State, 2B
MVP--Whitney Johnson, North Dakota State, P
Melissa Chmielewski, North Dakota State, 1B
Elisa Victa, North Dakota State, LF
Brea Konz, North Dakota State, 3B
Lori Pankratz, Western Illinois, 2B
Julie DePolo, Western Illinois, 3B
Kamren Ferguson, Western Illinois, P
Lauren Furgala, Western Illinois, SS
Courtney Cronin, IPFW, P
Kris Karpun, IPFW, C
Rachel Staschuk, IPFW, 1B/P
Kori Seidlitz, South Dakota State, P
Dani Broshar, South Dakota State, C

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Players Mentioned

#22 Kamren Ferguson: P; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#8 Lauren Furgala: IF; 5' 3"; Senior; S/R

#15 Lori Pankratz: P/IF; 5' 8"; Senior; R/R

#6 Erin Schlotfeldt: C/DP; 5' 9"; Junior; R/R

#25 Julie DePolo: IF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#22 Kamren Ferguson
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P

#8 Lauren Furgala
: 5' 3"; Senior; S/R
: IF

#15 Lori Pankratz
: 5' 8"; Senior; R/R
: P/IF

#6 Erin Schlotfeldt
: 5' 9"; Junior; R/R
: C/DP

#25 Julie DePolo
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: IF