A two-RBI double by Camryn Lasota to right center field in the fifth inning propelled the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, but ultimately wasn’t enough to overcome an 8-4 loss to the Tarleton State Texans on Saturday, February 22nd.
Lasota’s hit scored Jaedyn Valdez from second and Brooklyn Morris from first, narrowing the Texans’ lead. The game, played at Tarleton Softball Complex, marked the first matchup of the season between the two teams.
Lasota, a senior, was recognized as a Summit League Player to Watch prior to the 2026 season, having led her team with a .296 batting average and eight home runs in the previous year. She is a former standout from Divine Savior Holy Angels High School.
The Fighting Hawks followed up the game against Tarleton State with another contest at the Tarleton Softball Complex against the Modern Mexico Lobos later that same day. North Dakota is predicted to finish fifth in the Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The team began its 2026 campaign at the Paradise Classic in Hawai’i against Pacific.
Unity Nelson, also named a Summit League Player to Watch, is a key pitcher for North Dakota, posting a 6-3 record and a 3.55 ERA with 53 strikeouts across 71 innings pitched in 2025. Lasota pitched in 21 games with 13 starts in 2024, throwing 82.2 innings and recording four complete games.
