MOBILE, Ala. – North Dakota State answered No. 21 University of South Alabama softball sophomore Amanda Minahan's game-tying home run in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs in the top of the sixth, as the Jaguars dropped a 7-3 decision to the Bison on Friday in game one of a non-conference series at Jaguar Field.
 
The teams traded a pair of runs apiece in the opening frame, and North Dakota State (37-8), of the Summit League, scratched one across in the top of the third to go ahead, 3-2. Minahan's fifth homer of the year knotted scoring at three all, before the Bison pieced together the go-ahead effort a half-inning later.
 
The Jaguars outhit NDSU, 8-7, on the night, but stranded 10 runners on, including leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings.
 
"It was a pretty evenly-played game, but the difference was that when they had their opportunities to drive in runs they took advantage," said USA head coach Becky Clark. "We left too many runners on, and tomorrow we have to make the adjustment and get better at that."
 
Games two and three begin on Saturday at 2 p.m. Senior Day festivities precede the doubleheader. Links to live stats, ticket information and video streaming can be found by accessing the Jaguar softball schedule page. In-game Twitter updates are provided via the program's official handle, @USAJagsSoftball.
 
Farish Beard suffered the loss for USA (32-9), falling to 8-3 after allowing seven runs (all earned) on six hits in five innings. Beard struck out eight Bison batters, including six in a row before Logan Moreland's go-ahead solo shot in the top of the third.
 
Jaguar freshman right-hander Kalen McGill threw two innings of scoreless relief, allowing only one NDSU hit.
 
Bison righty Krista Menke earned the win after limiting the Jags to three runs (two earned) on eight hits with nine strikeouts and three walks, moving to 27-3 on the year.
 
USA juniors Emily Messer and Stephanie Pilkington each batted 2-for-4, with Messer scoring USA initial run. Minahan finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Freshman Kaleigh Todd scored her seventh run in eight games to tie the game at two all in the first inning.
 
Sophomore designated player Chloe Rathburn was 1-for-3 with an RBI, as the Mission Viejo, Calif., native extended her current hitting streak to nine games.
 
Bison second baseman Cheyenne Garcia was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI, while catcher Alyssa Reina recorded a pair of hits with an RBI and run scored. Center fielder Alex Sobrero was 1-for-3 with a run and RBI.
 
Garcia scored NDSU's first run on Reina's RBI double down the left field line. Reina doubled the Bison lead in the opening inning when she scored on a wild Beard pitch.
 
Pilkington singled to right center to score Messer, and Rathburn lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Todd, as USA tied scoring a half-inning later.
 
Moreland's two-out solo bomb to right center put NDSU ahead in the top of the third before Minahan evened scoring at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Garcia and Reina led with singles in the top of the sixth before Sobrero's base hit to right field brought in the former to put the Bison up, 4-3. Sobrero then scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Bison right fielder Jenna Isbel, after Pilkington was adjudged to have left her foot off the plate in a force out attempt at home.
 
Garcia recorded her second hit of the inning, a two-run single up the middle, to put North Dakota State ahead four runs.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).