Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves opened their 2011 home slate on Friday, earning a doubleheader split with the visiting Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears and picking up their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory in the process.

The split moves the Wolves to 7-17 overall and 1-5 in league play while CSP moves to 21-9 on the season and 4-2 in conference action.

The Golden Bears did most of their damage in the first two innings of Game 1.  Katie Anderson led off the game with a single and moved up to second on a stolen base following a Brynn Larsen pop out.  Calli Brennan then singled home Anderson to give the Golden Bears the quick early lead.

Concordia added two more in the second inning on a 2-out, 2-RBI single up the middle from Larsen.  The Golden Bears looked poised to add to that total on Brennan's ensuing at bat, but her vicious liner to the right side of the field caught Larsen in the helmet on her way to second for the third out.  Larsen would return to the game.

CSP scored their fourth and final run in the seventh after leading off the inning with three straight singles.

For her part, Concordia starter Ashley Kluever kept the Wolves' line-up off balance through much of the game, carrying a no-hit bid into the bottom of the seventh inning.  Juniors Rachel South and Brittany Huback, however, broke up that bid with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning.  Kluever, however, was able to get the next three batters to preserve the win.

NSU sophomore Stephanie Horkey took the loss for the Wolves, allowing three runs in two innings.  Junior Kelli Bornander came on to start the third inning, finishing out the remaining five innings, allowing one run on eight hits and striking out five.

The Wolves returned the favor in Game 2.  After trading runs in the second, the Wolves used a five-run fourth to break the game open.  Sophomore Natasha Neu scored the first run of the inning, racing home from second on Ashley Gabler's one-out single into the gap.  NSU then took advantage of a Concordia defensive miscue when shortstop Sami Mattson mishandled a ground ball from Sarah L'Allier.  That allowed Kelley Suggs to score from third unhindered and set up a golden opportunity from junior Brooke Norris.

Norris, who went 3-for-4 in the game for NSU, delivered with a squeeze bunt single that plated Gabler from third.  Brittany Huback followed with a 2-RBI single that chased Concordia starter Stephanie Schmikla from the game.  Cassye McMahon took over for the Golden Bears and promptly walked the bases full, but recovered with an inning-ending double play.

The damage, however, was done, as Suggs turned in a complete-game effort for the Wolves to earn her fourth victory of the year.  The left-hander allowed just one run on eight hits with no walks and no strikeouts.

Schmikla took the loss for the Golden Bears, as she was charged with all six runs (five earned) on seven hits and four free passes.

The Wolves will take their Game 2 momentum into tomorrow's match-up with St. Cloud State in another key NSIC doubleheader.  The Huskies dropped both of their games at U-Mary on Friday, including a 12-11 8-inning slugfest in the finale.  First pitch on Saturday is slated for noon at Moccasin Creek Complex.