The No. 1-ranked North Dakota State College of Science softball team suffered its first loss of the NJCAA DIII World Series on Saturday.
No. 2-ranked, defending national champion Patrick & Henry held on for a 3-0 victory, sending the Wildcats into elimination territory.
The Patriots advance to the championship round with a 3-0 record in the tournament.
The top-seeded Wildcats hope to claw their way into a rematch, but first, they’ll have to get through sixth-seeded Monroe at noon Sunday to stay alive in the final day of the World Series.
Neither team got the bats going, as Patrick & Henry tallied four hits to the Wildcats’ three. The Patriots used seven walks at the plate to push across their runs.
Meredith Frey doubled the loss. Blythe Proulx and Ava Howard each singled.
Emma Cue doubled home a run for the Patriots. Tatumn Brim also drove in a run.
Kayla Bartley’s dominant outing in the circle was the difference. The Patriot pitcher went the distance in shutout fashion, walking four and striking out five to earn her 20th victory of the season.
Grace Folkema drew the start for NDSCS and struggled with control. The star sophomore was pinched for seven walks through 2 ⅔ innings. Folkema held the Patriots to a pair of hits while striking out six.
Ella Stewart delivered yet another masterful relief appearance. Stewart surrendered two hits across four-plus innings, striking out four batters without issuing a walk.
The Wildcats (51-14-1) have been here before, bouncing back in 2023 to win the national title and slugging it out with Patrick & Henry (37-16) twice in a 2024 tourney that saw the Wildcats finish runner-up.
