Game 1 Box

Game 2 Box

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves drew one of the toughest teams in the conference to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, as the Wolves played host to seventh-ranked Winona State University on Friday, falling to the Warriors by final scores of 7-1 and 5-0.  The games marked the first NSIC games of the season for both teams.

 

NSU slipped to 4-14 on the season and 0-2 in league action, while the Warriors – ranked second in the most recent set of Central Region rankings – improved to 16-4 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

 

The Wolves struggled to find their stride offensively, as WSU pitchers Courtney Strang and Alex Chichila combined to throw two complete games, allowing just five hits and striking out 22 on the day. 

 

The Warriors, meanwhile, took advantage of a four-run outburst in each game to pull away late in each contest.  WSU held just a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh and final inning of Game 1 before stringing together four straight hits to open the seventh inning.  Strang then set the Wolves down in order in the bottom of the inning to close out her seventh win of the season.

 

The Wolves picked up their lone run of the day in the second inning, tying the game at 1-1 when junior second baseman Lindsey Cegla singled home sophomore Ashley Gabler, who had led off the stanza with a single and moved to second on a Kelley Suggs walk.

 

WSU broke the stalemate with a pair of runs in the fourth before capping the win with the offensive outburst in the seventh.

 

Sophomore Kelli Bornander was tagged with the loss in a complete-game performance for the Wolves, falling to 3-8 on the season with the decision.

 

Game 2 proved to be a pitchers' duel through the first five innings before the Warriors finally got on the board with a run in the top of the sixth inning.  WSU sophomore Kathy Crudo then cranked a 2-run homer as part of a four-run Warrior seventh inning to help seal the victory and complete the sweep.

 

NSU sophomore Rachel South absorbed the loss for the Wolves despite throwing six strong innings.  Sophomore Brooke Norris had the Wolves' lone hit of the game with her 2-out double to left in the sixth inning.

 

The Wolves close out the weekend on Saturday with another NSIC twin bill against Upper Iowa University.  Game times are set for 2 and 4 p.m. at Manor Park.