Maryville, M.O. - Scoring 18 runs in two games the Northern State University softball team dropped two games to Northwest Missouri State in regional play today with scores of 1-4 and 17-16 (8 inn.). The Wolves slide to .500 overall with a record of 8-8, as the Bearcats improve to 15-7 overall.

NSU was two hit in the first match up of the day by Bearcat hurler, Jenna Creger as she moved to 7-3 with the win. The Wolves scored first in the game as Eryn Yancy singled to left field scoring Morgan Schultz who had singled to right field the previous at bat. That would be the only run of the game for the Wolves as Northwest took the lead in the fourth inning scoring four runs off of four hits. 

Sophomore pitcher, Kami Smesmo suffered her third loss of the year giving up four runs on eight hits and only four strikeouts. The Wolves looked to improve in game two. 

A high scoring event through eight innings of play, NSU totaled 14 hits, three of which being homeruns. Stephanie Horkey would take the loss for the Wolves giving up eight earned runs and 13 hits. 

The Wolves scored first again off a Schultz homerun to left center, bringing in Kelsey Gale who had singled to center. NWMS would answer back in the bottom of the inning with five runs off NSU pitcher, Debbie Evans faced 15 batters for the Wolves giving up six earned runs on eight total Bearcat hits. 

Down 11-2 through two innings of play, the women began to chip away from the lead in the top of the third scoring another two runs off the big bat of Kelsey Robling as she homered to left. Robling powered the Wolves again in the fourth with another two RBI scoring Gale and Kalie Maiden with a one out double to right center. 

The big inning for the Wolves came in the fifth as they scored six runs off five hits to bring the team total to 12 runs. Schultz began the NSU attack scoring Macey Engel on a single to center. Robling and Haley Covais added two RBI's a piece each singling to center with Lindsey Hubler bringing in the other run of the inning with an RBI groundout to the shortstop. 

Hubler was not finished on the day as she stepped to the plate in the top of the sixth inning with Yancy, Robling and Schultz all on base. With a 2-2 count she sent a blast to left center notching her first career homerun and grand slam, while tying up the game at 16 all.  Hubler would go 2-4 in the game with five RBI's for the Wolves. 

Scoreless in the top and bottom of the seventh inning the two teams moved to international tie breaker. Unable to score in the top of the eighth the Wolves would give up one run to the Bearcats who secured the win. 

Robling went 4-6 for the plate tallying six RBI's on the day, with Schultz right behind going 3-6 for the plate with three RBI. The freshmen effort for the Wolves included two hits and two RBI from Covais and one hit a piece for Gale, Engel and Maiden. 

The Wolves stay on the road again tomorrow facing off against Missouri Western moving game time up to  11 a.m. and 1 p.m. from St. Joseph, Missouri.