Marshall, Minn. - In their final weekend of regular season softball the Northern State University softball team was defeated on the day by Southwest Minnesota State University. The Wolves slid to 18-22 on the year and 10-12 in the league, as the Mustangs improved to 17-21 overall and 10-16 in NSIC play.  Prior to today's game the Wolves sat in 11th place in the conference just one spot short of receiving a bid to the conference tournament.  Click HERE for a link to the NSIC current softball standings. 

The Wolves dropped game one with the Mustangs who scored two earned runs off NSU starter Kami Smesmo. She allowed only five hits and stuck out a total of four in the game. 

The freshmen pair of Macey Engel and Kelsey Gale recorded the two Northern hits on the day. Engel connected for her fifth double of the season, while Gale singled to right center. As a team the Wolves struggled to put the ball past the solid SMSU defense that was errorless in the game. A staggering 19 of the teams 21 outs were forced by either a ground ball or fly out. 

Starting off game two with a bang the Wolves scored three runs in the top of the first inning of play. The lead off batter, Gale, reached on a single up the middle, followed shortly by Morgan Schultz in the same fashion. Gale who had reached second on a passed ball, scored on the single by Schultz. Kelsey Robling and Lindsey Hubler would add to the NSU total each singling to right. Hubler recorded her 15th RBI of the year on the play. With Robling and Hubler on base, Jordin Novak connected for her fourth double of the season to put the Wolves ahead by three.

SMSU would answer back however in the third and fifth innings scoring a total of five earned runs off NSU senior Stephanie Horkey. The NSU offense was led by Hubler as she was 3-3 from the plate with an RBI. Robling and Novak each added to hits to the team total of ten in the game. The chances were there for the Wolves as they left seven runners on base. 

Northern will finish the conference regular season tomorrow versus University of Sioux Falls. Game times are set for 12 and 2 p.m. from the home complex of the Cougars.