Albrecht Throws Complete Game Shutout, Neumayer Mashes a Three-Run Homer as Fighting Hawks Win 4-0 Sunday to Complete Sweep of NDSU

PHOTO/RUSSELL HONS

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND ATHLETICS) – The North Dakota softball team got its first ever three-game sweep of North Dakota State this weekend, completing the sweep with a 4-0 win on Sunday afternoon. Jackie Albrecht threw her second complete game of the weekend and allowed only three hits to keep the Bison off the scoreboard.

All the runs in the game came in the bottom of the first inning as Johanna Rodriguez and Izzy Haslett hit one out singles and then Taya Hopfauf reached on an error to load the bases, then Cassie Castaneda hit a sac fly to center to bring Rodriguez in to score. Katelyn Neumayer came up next and cleared the bases with a three-run bomb that cleared the fence in centerfield.

The Fighting Hawks defense came up with a key double-play in the top of the second as Albrecht made a good play on a groundball to get the runner at first headed for second, and Katie Joten got the ball to Neumayer in time to end the frame.

Both teams got out of a tight spot in the middle of the game as NDSU got out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third, and in the top of the fourth Albrecht faced runners on first and second with one out but got a flyout and groundout to get out of the inning. From there, both Albrecht and Bison reliever Madison Wihlm controlled the game—neither surrendering a hit in the final three innings of the game.

Albrecht got the win while Savy Williams took the loss.

The Fighting Hawks have a midweek game with Minnesota Crookston this Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Apollo Park, then welcome Omaha next weekend for a three-game series.