MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – North Dakota plated multiple runs in the first inning of both contests on Saturday from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, but the Fighting Hawks were unable to hold off its Power 4 opposition as Pittsburgh and Minnesota each picked up 5-3 wins over UND.
 
In the nightcap, the Hawks struck in the top of the first with three runs on five hits as run-scoring doubles by Callie Honig and Angie Dumlao sandwiched an RBI single off the bat of Katelyn Neumayer as the Hawks built a 3-0 lead. UM found success in their first trip to the plate, but needed just one hit as the Golden Gophers took advantage of two walks and two errors to push across two runs in response.
 
 Minnesota evened the contest at 3-3 in the second on an RBI single, took the lead on a wild pitch and added an insurance run with a run-scoring base knock as all eight runs in the contest were plated in the first two frames of play.
 
The Hawks put runners on in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but all were left stranded. UND turned to Jackie Albrecht to start who went 2.2 IP with three strikeouts, while allowing just two hits with six walks. Katelyn Strauss took over for the starter and tossed 3.1 innings scattering three hits and one walk as she faced just one over the minimum.
 
In Saturday's opener against Pitt, Katie Joten jumpstarted the Hawks' offensive efforts early with a solo blast out to left field, her second of the season, to push UND up 1-0 after just one plate appearance. The next inning, NoDak added a second run as a lengthy fly ball out in right field foul territory by Albrecht was deep enough to chase home Taya Hopfauf who evaded the tag attempt up the line for a 2-0 advantage for the Fighting Hawks. Hopfauf doubled a handful of pitches earlier landing contact on the warning track in left centerfield.
 
Pitt placed its first run on the board in the home half of the second inning on fielder's choice. The Hawks responded in the next half frame as Neumayer singled with two outs in the inning to score Quincie Chunestudey who singled in her at bat in the third.
 
North Dakota turned to a pair of freshmen arms to attack the Panther lineup. Tehya Armstrong started for UND and pitched into the fifth inning for the Hawks before finishing with 4.0 IP with four hits, three walks and two strikeouts. Unity Nelson worked the final two innings facing just one over the minimum.
 
The Panthers tied the contest at 3 in the third inning on a two-run home run, executed a 1^st and 3^rd play as a double steal allowed Pitt to grab a 4-3 lead in the fifth before an insurance run crossed in the frame to make it 5-3 in favor of the ACC foe.
 
North Dakota put runners at first and second in each of the final two innings but were unable to provide any more run support as the Panthers rallied back from a 2-0 deficit in the first meeting all-time between the two programs.
 
The Hawks rematch with the Golden Gophers on Sunday at noon. Live coverage links for the series are available at www.FightingHawks.com.
 
For more information on North Dakota softball, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDsoftball.

Postgame Notes

• Albrecht moved two strikeouts away from becoming the fourth Fighting Hawk with 400 career strikeouts and just the second in the program's DI era
• Hopfauf (Pitt), Neumayer (Minnesota) and Honig (Minnesota) all recorded multi-hit games
• Honig tied Joten for the team lead in multi-hit games (13), Neumayer recorded her 11^th and Hopfauf registered her ninth
• UND struck out just once against the Panthers
• The Hawks outhit both opponents on Saturday, but committed two errors in each loss
• The Hawks turned a season high three double plays against Minnesota