Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Northern State University softball team struggled at the plate on Friday, dropping the first two games of the 2009 season by 5-0 and 4-0 counts to St. Cloud State University.  The Husky pitching staff held the Wolves to just three hits and a pair of walks, while SCSU hurler Brit Kreig tossed a complete-game no-hitter in game two of the non-conference double-header to keep the Wolves at bay.

The twinbill marked the start of the season for the Wolves.  SCSU, meanwhile, was playing its 15th and 16th games of the season, improving to 4-12 overall with the sweep.  Friday's nightcap also marked each team's first game of this weekend's Husky Dome Invite.

After a rocky first inning of Game 1, the Wolves and senior pitching ace Breanna Milnes settled in for three straight scoreless innings, working around a 2-on, 2-out situation in the bottom of the third in the process.

NSU put together its own scoring threat in the top of the fifth, when Sarah Curley smacked a 1-out single and advanced to third on Milnes ensuing double.  However, the Wolves could not capitalize on the opportunity, as Curley was picked off at third and Milnes was retired on a fielder's choice to end the inning.

The Huskies then added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning, aided by NSU's lone defensive miscue of the night, then tacked on a fifth run in the bottom of the sixth.

Milnes, who recorded eight strikeouts while not allowing a walk in her 5-inning opening day appearance, was tagged with the loss on the mound for the Wolves.

Game two was more of the same for the Wolves, who managed just two base runners in that game.  The Huskies plated a pair of runs in the first inning and tacked on a third in the second inning.  NSU was able to work out of two more scoring jams in the fourth and fifth innings to keep things close, but could not come up with the offensive firepower to counter the Husky attack.

NSU's Kelli Bornander gave up four runs on four hits while striking out three in the loss.

The Wolves are back in action on Saturday, facing Bemidji State at 10 a.m. and Southwest Minnesota State at 6 p.m.  Both games are non-conference affairs.  NSU closes out its Husky Dome Invite slate on Sunday against South Dakota.  First pitch for that game is slated for 8 a.m.