ABERDEEN, S.D. (uj.edu) — The 24th-ranked University of Jamestown softball team split a pair of games Friday at the Presentation Dome Classic in Aberdeen, S.D.

In Friday’s first game, NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) University scored five runs in the top of the fifth on the way to an 8-6 victory.

The Wolves got on the scoreboard in the top of the first with a single run, but Kassi Ward (SO/Olympia, WA) hit a two-run homer in the bottom half to give UJ a 2-1 lead.

NSU scored twice in the top of the second to go ahead 3-2, but unearned runs in each of the second and third innings saw Jamestown take a 4-3 lead.

The score stayed 4-3 until NSU plated five runs in the fifth. UJ got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by Morgan Geiszler (SO/Horace, ND) to cut the deficit to 8-6.

Jamestown threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but were unable to get any runs home.

Mariah Martinez (FR/Visalia, Calif.) was 3-for-4 to lead the Jimmie offense. Katie Merchant (FR/South Haven, Minn.) (3-2) took the loss, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing five earned runs on 11 hits. She walked two and struck out one.

The Jimmies scored eight runs in the final two innings against Mayville State to win 9-3 in Friday’s second game.

Morgan Geiszler, Miriah Yoder (SR/Devils Lake, ND), and Morgan Flann (SO/Lake Lillian, MN) had RBI-singles and Sydney Prussia (SO/Detroit Lakes, MN) tripled home another run as Jamestown rallied from 3-1 down to lead 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

After holding the Comets scoreless, UJ came to bat in the seventh and scored four more runs to go up 9-3. A Mayville State error allowed the first run to score, then Miriah Yoder tripled to deep right, driving in two more. Yoder would advance on the throw and score the fourth run of the inning.

The Jimmes racked up 14 hits in the game, with Allie McCain (SR/Duvall, WA) going 3-for-5. Geiszler, Yoder, Kassi Ward, and Mariah Wick (SO/Jamestown, N.D.) all had two hits each.

Samm Hamilton (JR/Boise, Idaho) (1-0) worked the first five innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out three and walking two. Kat Miska (SO/Pequot Lakes, MN) got the final six outs, striking out four, for her first save of the season.

Jamestown (5-2) will play Dordt (Iowa) Saturday at 3 p.m. and Mount Marty (S.D.) Saturday at 7 p.m.