Bison Sports Update: February 4

Not a great week.

Men's Basketball
NDSU Men's Basketball did not have a great week. This was a week they had to have one of the games go their way, and it went the exact opposite. They visited South Dakota on Thursday and lost 62-71. Then on Saturday they lost after turning the ball over at half court, 85-90.
This week, NDSU will come home to host Omaha on Thursday at 7 PM. Then on Saturday, the Bison will host Denver at 1 PM.

North Dakota State Men's Basketball is 9-15 on the season, and 6-6 in Summit League play.

Women's Basketball
NDSU Women's Basketball split the week. The Bison got what they needed out of this week. They beat South Dakota on Thursday to sweep the season series with the Coyotes for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Then on Saturday, the Bison started hot against the Jacks but struggled to get a shot through the hoop in the 2nd quarter. They lost, 54-82. 
This week, NDSU hits the road again. They will visit Omaha on Thursday at 7 PM. Then on Saturday, they will visit Denver at 2 PM.

North Dakota State Women's Basketball is 14-8 on the season, and 8-4 in Summit League play.

Softball
Now, what you all have been waiting for, the 2023 NDSU Softball season preview! NDSU finished last season with a 30-23 record, 10-8 in Summit, and lost in the semifinal round of the Summit League tournament to finish the season. Not exactly something the Bison are accustomed to, but better then the season before nevertheless. The Bison hope to change their recent fortunes this season!
The team is returning several seniors from last year, including all-Bison pitchers Paige Vargas and Lainey Lyle. Also seniors this year are catcher Kaylee Moore, and infielder Skylar Padgett.

NDSU put together a different schedule then normal this year. They will start the year on February 10th down in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. The Bison will spend two straight weekends down in Mexico. Their first game will be against California Baptist on February 10th at 10 AM. Throughout the next several days, the Bison will play BYU, Oregon, Maryland, Ole Miss, Sacramento State, Southern Illinois, Tennessee, and Cal State Fullerton.
After the Mexico trip, the Bison will head to Auburn, Alabama for the Plainsman Invitational. That classic will start on February 24th at 10 AM, with the first game against Merrimack. Then NDSU will play Brown and tourney host Auburn.

In March, the Bison will start the month out with the Blues City Classic in Memphis, Tennessee. They will start that classic on March 3rd at 10 AM against Drake. The rest of that classic will include the host Memphis, UTSA, and SIU-Edwardsville. After that weekend classic, they will head to Minneapolis for the first ever Gopher Indoor Classic. Typically Minnesota's baseball team hosts games at US Bank Stadium, but this year the softball team is getting in on the action. The Bison will play five games at US Bank Stadium against the host Minnesota, Idaho State, and Drake, all over the weekend of March 10th. NDSU will then travel to Salt Lake City, Utah for a single game against Utah on March 14th at 5 PM. After that, the Bison will play in the shorter Idaho State Tournament. It will begin with host Idaho State, and continue with more games against Santa Clara. It will all start in Pocatello, Idaho on March 16th at 3 PM. After that classic, NDSU's non-conference play will end and Summit League play will begin with the 3-game series at Kansas City on March 25th and 26th.

In April, the Bison will start the month in Macomb to play Western Illinois in a 3-game series on April 1st and 2nd. Then on April 7th, NDSU will have the home opener against South Dakota. This will be NDSU Softball's 5th season inside the recently renovated Tharaldson Park. The following weekend, the Bison will head down south to Brookings for the 3-game series against South Dakota State on April 15th and 16th. NDSU will continue the road trip the next weekend when they head to St. Paul for a 3-game series against St. Thomas on April 22nd and 23rd. The Bison will conclude the month with a 3-game series against in-state rival North Dakota at home on April 29th and 30th.

Then in May, the only series scheduled is the home series against Omaha on May 5th and 6th. The Summit League tournament will take place from May 11-14 down in Brookings at SDSU's softball field for the second year in a row after the Jacks won the regular season title last season.

Lots of exciting things for the softball team, and don't forget they start their season this coming Friday, February 10th at 10 AM down in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

​Go Bison!!