Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box

MANKATO, Minn. – The Northern State University Wolves gave twenty-fourth ranked Minnesota State University, Mankato all they could handle, but still ended up on the short end of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Sunday, falling 4-1 in the opener and 9-0 in five innings in the nightcap.

 

The losses bring an end to the Wolves' 4-game weekend road swing and drop NSU to 5-21 overall and 1-9 in NSIC play.  MSU, which dropped both games of their twin bill to the University of Mary on Saturday, bounced back and improved to 19-7 on the season and 5-3 in the loop with Sunday's victories.

 

Despite a solid pitching performance from sophomore Kelli Bornander, the Wolves struggled to find their groove at the plate, scattering just three hits over the course of seven innings.  One of those hits, however, came in the form of sophomore Ashley Gabler's second home run of the season.  Gabler led off the fifth inning with the solo shot, breaking up the MSU shutout bid.

 

The Mavericks, for their part, took advantage of an NSU error in the first inning to score a pair of unearned runs to get on the board early.  MSU added an insurance run in the third and another in the fourth to hold on for the 4-1 win.

 

Bornander went the distance on the mound for the Wolves, allowing just the two earned runs and striking out six batters in her eighth complete game of the season.

 

Game two was more of the same, as the Wolves slapped out just four hits, but couldn't find a way to capitalize.  The Mavericks put together a trio of 3-run innings in the first, third and fourth stanzas before the game ended due to the 8-run rule.

 

Gabler went 1-for-2 at the plate in that game to raise her season average to .318.  Sophomores Whitney Luhring and Cat Zimmerman and freshman Kelsey Robling also picked up a hit apiece, including Luhring's third double of the year.

 

NSU junior Kelley Suggs was tagged with the loss for the Wolves, giving up three runs in the first inning.  Freshman Casey Mason came on in the second inning and allowed six runs – four earned – and chalking up four strikeouts in the remaining three innings.

 

The Wolves return home on Wednesday for another NSIC doubleheader, hosting Bemidji State University at 2 and 4 p.m. at Moccasin Creek Complex.