Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Northern State University sophomore
Kelsey Robling pounded her second home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning, while senior pitcher
Kelley Suggs scored an insurance run later in the inning to lift the Wolves to a 3-2 rain-soaked win over Minnesota State University Moorhead on Thursday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball action.
Game 2 of the day's scheduled doubleheader was called off.
With the win, the Wolves improved to 10-21 overall and 3-8 in league action, while the Dragons slipped to 11-15 on the year and 3-10 in NSIC play.
The Dragons took the early lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Katie Howland took advantage of a Northern State fielding error to lead off the inning and scored on a bases loaded Sam Adolph single.
Suggs, who earned her sixth win of the season with a complete-game effort, worked out the jam with a ground out and a fly out to left to keep it a 1-0 game. The left-handed hurler also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third after A.J. Hoefer laced a 2-out triple to right center and Adolph and Jessica Hollis followed with walks before Suggs ended the inning with an easy pop up to short.
The Wolves came storming back into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning off Dragon reliever Steeli Norton. NSU junior Cat Zimmerman drew a lead-off pinch-hit walk and Robling followed with a line-drive shot that cleared the fence in right center field to give the Wolves the lead.
Suggs then drew a one-out walk and moved around to score on a pair of wild pitches and a ground out to make it a 3-1 NSU advantage.
That insurance run proved critical in the top of the seventh when MSUM's Mara Litzer dropped her second homer of the year over the left field fence to cut it to a one-run game.
Suggs scattered four hits, four walks and six strikeouts over her seven innings of work. Dragon starter Alexa D'Onofrio went five innings, giving up four hits, a walk and a strike-out before being lifted in the top of the sixth. Norton allowed all three NSU runs and took the loss, falling to 3-5 on the season.
The Wolves are now slated to face Winona State and Upper Iowa on Friday and Saturday, continuing their stretch of ten games in six days. First pitch is set for noon both days. Stay tuned to www.nsuwolvesathletics.com for the latest schedule updates.
