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INDIANAPOLIS – North Dakota State trailed entering the sixth inning but scored two runs in the sixth and seventh innings to defeat the IUPUI softball team 4-3 Saturday afternoon in the finale of a three-game Summit League set.

The loss dropped the Jaguars to 7-16 on the season and 1-5 in the conference, while the Bison improved to 19-11 overall and 3-0 in the league.

IUPUI took advantage of a NDSU fielding error in the fourth to score three runs, but the Bison rallied for two runs in the sixth before scoring another pair in the seventh on a one-out home run down the left field line.

After scoring a combined 17 runs the first two games, Jocelyn Oppenhuis kept the Bison off-balance in their first five innings yielding just two hits.

With the NDSU offense held in check, the Jags struck in the fourth and it started when Eryn Dillon reached first when she was hit by a pitch. After stealing second base, Dillon moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Angela Bartucci. During the next at-bat, Dillon beat out a throw home on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Jenny Royse to place the Jags on top, 1-0.

During the next at-bat, Ashley Seering drilled a single through the right side that went under the legs of the right fielder all the way to the wall. The error by the right fielder allowed both Royse and Seering to score placing the Jags on top 3-0.

In the sixth, the Bison scored two runs on three hits, but it could have been worse. Lindsey Richards robbed NDSU with a home run saving catch that would have given North Dakota State the lead, before Oppenhuis forced a pop out with the bases loaded and two outs to keep the IUPUI lead at 3-2.

Unfortunately for IUPUI, NDSU’s Brea Knoz belted a two-run homer down the left field line in the top of the seventh  giving the Bison their first lead of the game, 4-3.

The Jags gave themselves a chance in their half of the seventh when Richards reached second base on a one-out double, but a strike out and a ground out ended the game handing the Bison a 4-3 victory.

The Jaguars return to action on Tuesday, March 20, when it heads to Valparaiso, Ind., to take on the Crusaders in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.