St. Joseph, MO. - Finishing up regional play for the weekend the Northern State University softball team dropped two games to Missouri Western State University on the road. The Wolves dropped to 8-10 on the year heading into the beginning of conference play as the Griffons improve to 20-8 as a team. 

Game one brought six runs for the Wolves as they fell 11-6 to Griffon ace Jackie Bishop. After going down by two in the bottom of the first inning, NSU answered back in the second with two runs of their own. Freshman stand out Kelsey Gale singled to right field bringing in fellow freshmen Haley Covais, who reached on a fielder's choice, and Macey Engel, who had walked, for two RBI. 

The Griffons would add five in the third and another two in the fifth before NSU added three to bring the game score to 9-5 between the two teams. Engel added two RBI to her year total as she hit in Lindsey Hubler and Stephanie Horkey with a single to right. Gale topped off her 3-4 day at the plate and third RBI bringing in Engel with an infield single. 

Northern totaled eight hits in the game from five different starters. Kalie Maiden recorded her top performance of the year going 2-3 from the plate as Kelsey Robling, Hubler and Engel all added a hit a piece. 

Debbie Evans suffered her third loss of the year throwing three innings for the Wolves and giving up seven runs. Horkey entered the game in the fourth inning as relief allowing five hits and four runs. 

The second game proved to be no better for the women as Missouri Western out hit and out scored the Wolves to a 15-1 win in five innings of play. The Griffons started their attack in the first inning scoring eight runs off sophomore hurler Kami Smesmo as she fell to 5-4 on the season. A shaky fielding effort by the Wolves gave up ten unearned runs in the game. 

Three lone Wolves would have a hit a piece as the Griffons totaled 12 hits on the day. In the top of the first inning Gale smashed her team leading fifth double of the season to start off the game for the Wolves. Robling added a double herself just before Eryn Yancy hit into a fielder's choice scoring Gale and racking up her 13th RBI of the year. 

NSU will return home to begin conference play this upcoming week taking on MSU Moorhead, Augustana and Wayne State. Locations and times to be determined due to weather conditions. Stay tuned to nsuwolvesathletics.com for all schedule changes this spring.