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Seattle • Husky Softball Stadium, located across the street from glistening Lake Washington, provides a picturesque setting for college softball.

The Weber State Wildcats would have appreciated the lake views infinitely more if North Dakota State had stopped launching home runs toward the water.

Three home runs powered the Bison in a 5-2 triumph that eliminated Weber State from the NCAA tournament on Saturday evening. The Wildcats, seeded fourth at the four-team Seattle Regional, finished 37-19 after going 0-2 at the regional for the second straight year.

"I love our team," coach Mary Kay Amicone said. "They have had a tremendous season."

Martiza Lopez-Portillo, Cheyenne Garcia and Jackie Stifter homered to back the strong pitching of Jacquelyn Sertic in North Dakota State's win. Sertic (24-7), the Summit League Pitcher of the Year, threw a five-hitter and struck out 12.

"Her movement [on pitches] was the best we've seen," Weber shortstop Aubrey Whitmer said.

"She hits spots really well," third baseman Alyson Kulp added, "and she was keeping us off-balance."

Weber sent the potential tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh after Kulp doubled in a run. Amicore chose to give freshman Tatiana Su'esu'e her first college at-bat, and Su'esu'e struck out to end the game.

"She hits daily in practice," Amicore explained. "She can really drive the ball."

The powerfully built Su'esu'e pinch-hit for JaeCie Wilson, a diminutive freshman with a .388 batting average but no extra-base hits all season.

Weber State starting pitcher Kirtlyn Bohling (17-9) took the loss.

Third-seeded North Dakota State (39-14) played an elimination game late Saturday night against second-seeded Minnesota (42-13). The winner takes on top-seeded Washington (38-13) on Sunday. —

Storylines

R North Dakota State hits three homer to eliminate Weber State.

• Weber State gets the potential tying run to the plate before being retired.

• Wildcats finish the season 37-19 after going 0-2 in Seattle.