FARGO, N.D. –  The Western Illinois softball team fell to the North Dakota State Bison 4-0 on Sunday afternoon inside the Ellig Sports Complex. With the win, the Bison claimed the 2018 Summit League regular season championship. 

The Leathernecks struggled to hit 2016 Summit League Pitcher of the Year Jaquelyn Sertic for the second time in as many days in the final game of the 2018 regular season.

Emily Ira was battling with Sertic all day long, striking out six batters in six innings of work. 

The Bison broke the scoreless game in the fourth inning, with an RBI double that was followed by a single to capture the first lead of the game. North Dakota State added to its lead in the fifth inning with a two-run shot over the center field wall to make it 4-0.

The Bison no-hit bid was ended in the seventh inning when Aly Compton smacked a pinch-hit single. Hailey Duwa followed it up with a single of her own, but the rally was not enough.

Western Illinois will be featured as the three seed in the Summit League tournament and will play a first-round game against Fort Wayne on Wednesday (May 9) at 5:30 p.m.