North Dakota State University’s softball team will continue its spring break trip by heading to Southern California for a series of games against Long Beach State, UC Riverside, and California Baptist this week, according to a March 9 announcement.
The trip is significant as it marks the Bison’s ongoing tradition of competing in California, where they have played 121 games since their first visit in 2006. The team has seven Californians on its current roster and regularly schedules games in the state.
The Bison will begin their west coast swing with a game against Long Beach State on Tuesday, March 10. They will then face UC Riverside on Wednesday before concluding the week with a three-game series against California Baptist on Friday and Saturday. Several of these games will be streamed live on ESPN+, with additional coverage available through live statistics on the team’s official website.
Historically, North Dakota State has had mixed results against these opponents. The Bison are set to meet Long Beach State for the sixth time; while NDSU won the first two meetings, Long Beach State has claimed victory in the last three encounters. Against UC Riverside, NDSU trails in the all-time series but secured its only win during their first meeting in 2012. The upcoming series with California Baptist will be their first multi-game matchup; however, NDSU has won both previous single meetings between the teams.
Several players are entering this stretch with notable achievements. Senior Bella Dean leads with a career-best 10-game hitting streak and a 19-game reached base streak. Juniors Star Cortez and Taylinn Warren also have extended reached base streaks. As a team, NDSU ranks second in the Summit League for doubles and leads in stolen bases at midseason.
After completing this road trip, North Dakota State will open Summit League play at Omaha from March 20-22 under a new three-day series format.
