North Dakota State University’s softball team will begin its Summit League schedule with a three-game series against Omaha, starting March 20. The Bison, who have completed a 29-game non-conference stretch, will face the defending co-champions and tournament champions at Connie Claussen Field.
This opening league series is significant as it marks the transition from non-conference to conference play for NDSU. The games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 2 p.m., with the finale on Sunday at noon. All matches will be streamed live on The Summit League Network, requiring a subscription via the Midco Sports Plus App. Live statistics and coverage links are available on gobison.com.
Historically, NDSU trails Omaha in their all-time series, holding a 31-53 record since their first meeting in 1978. However, in Division I play, Omaha leads by only one game (19-18). Under current Mavericks head coach Mike Heard since 2021, NDSU has won four of eighteen matchups, with Omaha taking the last seven meetings.
The Bison have performed well in Summit League opening weekends over their 17 seasons in the conference, posting a combined record of 36-14. Last season they went 2-1 against Kansas City but lost all three games when they last opened league play at Omaha in 2024. Notably, NDSU has never hosted an opening weekend series in Fargo.
Several players have stood out this season. Freshman Jocelyn McClary has excelled in night games with a 4-0 record and two shutouts as pitcher. Junior Star Cortez leads offensively with a .412 batting average and has started every game for two seasons. Senior Bella Dean and junior Taylinn Warren both recently achieved double-digit hitting streaks. The team also ranks second in the Summit League for doubles this year and leads the league in stolen bases.
After completing their non-conference schedule with a winning record during Southern California games last week, NDSU will return to non-conference action following this weekend’s series by traveling to Alabama for two games against nationally ranked Alabama.
