FARGO, N.D. – The Western Illinois softball team dropped two games to North Dakota State on Saturday (April 23) at the Ellig Sports Complex. The Leathernecks led for the first two innings in game one, but ended up falling by a score of 7-1 before dropping game two 10-2. With the losses, Western moves to 11-30 (4-6 Summit League) on the year.

GAME ONE: North Dakota State 7, Western Illinois 1

Things got off on the right foot for Western in the first inning when Karissa Kouchis and Tierney Bottino drew back-to-back walks. Two at bats later, Rachel Beatty drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Haley Duwa singled up the middle to score Kouchis and the Leathernecks took an early 1-0 lead.                                                    

Western would hold onto the lead until the bottom of the third when NDSU tied things up with a solo home run. The Bison would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead.

Western attempted to respond in the top of the seventh inning after NDSU added three more runs to extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Duwa garnered her second base hit of the day with a single to right field. Payton Abbott, who was brought on to pinch run, advanced to second following a sacrifice bunt from Nina Maggio and then moved to third on a wild pitch. However, Abbott would stay stranded at the end of the inning as the Leathernecks fell by a final score of 7-1.

Duwa led the way for Western with two base hits and an RBI while Aly Compton extended her career-high hitting streak to five games.

Emily Ira got the nod in the circle. The lefty pitched four and a half innings, compiling six strikeouts, and giving up three earned runs off of seven hits. Abbott pitched one and a third innings of relief, giving up three earned runs and three hits.

GAME TWO: North Dakota State 10, Western Illinois 2 (Six Innings)

The Bison got on the board quickly in the first inning, scoring three runs to take a 3-0 lead.

Duwa and Beatty would hit back-to-back singles in the top of the second but were left aboard at the end of the inning. NDSU then tacked on another run in the bottom of the third to lead 4-0.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bison scored five runs to extend their lead to 9-0. Western answered back in the top of the fifth when Maggio and Sidney Bottino hit back-to-back singles. After Kacyee Hart was brought on to pinch run for Bottino, Holly Hoelting hit the third consecutive single of the inning to load the bases. Tierney Bottino then hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Maggio and put the Leathernecks on the board. Kelsey Marlow contributed with an RBI single to center field to score Hart, but the rally would stop there. At the end of five innings of play, the Bison led 9-2.

In the top of the sixth, Maggio picked up where she left off with a single but she was left on base at the end of the inning. NDSU scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth to take game two by a score of 10-2 in six innings.

Hart pitched three and a half innings, surrendering eight earned runs off of seven hits. Brooke Stulga pitched one-third of an inning, giving up one hit and one walk. Megan Lotarski made her first appearance since league play began, pitching one and a half innings while giving up four hits and one earned run.

Maggio went two-for-three with a run while Marlow and T. Bottino each recorded an RBI.

The final game of the three game series is slated to begin tomorrow at 10 a.m.