Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
St. Paul, Minn. - Coming back for a game two win, the Northern State University softball was able to pull out the split with fourth place conference opponent Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears took game one with a score of 11-3 in five innings but were unable to hold down the Wolves for game two as they came out with hot bats and a 6-4 win. Northern moves to 13-17 on the season and 5-7 in conference play as the split brings Concordia to 22-8 overall and 9-3 in the league.
 
Down six to nothing going into the top of the fourth inning, NSU was able to edge two runs from CSP which started with a Haley Covais double to right field. Covais later scored on a one out single by Caitlin Moran to the second baseman. Morgan Schultz who walked to lead off the inning scored as Kelsey Gale was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
 
Shaky defense for NSU allowed five unearned runs in the game as Kami Smesmo suffered the loss only giving up four hits and two earned runs. Stephanie Horkey entered for relief in the bottom of the second, giving up eight hits and four earned runs in her 3.1 innings of play.
 
Eryn Yancy added the final run for the Wolves in the top of the fifth as she blasted her first homerun of the season left. Yancy was 2-3 in the game with one RBI. Moran and Covais added the other two Northern hits off Golden Bear ace Ashley Kluever.
 
In her second start on the day Smesmo notched the win allowing one earned run off five hits while striking out six. Smesmo is now 7-9 on the year with 93 total strikeouts.
 
Northern scored first in the game with three ones in the top of the first inning. Moran began the Wolf attack with a single to left, quickly followed by the number three hitter Kelsey Robling who singled up the middle. Still hot from game one, Yancy knocked in Moran with a single to center. Macey Engel, who was 2-4, in the game stepped to the plate clearing the bases as she doubled to center field and recorded two RBI.
 
The Wolves added one more run in the top of the second off the bat of Robling who singled through the left side. Jordin Novak scored on the play after leading off the inning with a single to center.
 
Up by one going into the sixth inning of play, NSU sealed the deal with two more runs. Robling led the offensive attack for the women as she was 4-4 from the plate with one RBI. Yancy ended her day with three RBI and a 5-7 effort after recording her first double of the year in game two. The freshmen trio of Gale, Engel and Novak connected for two hits a piece in the game, with Engel also adding two RBI. Lindsey Hubler and Moran accounted for the other two NSU hits bringing the team total to 15.
 
Northern State will return to Aberdeen for a six game home stand taking on Minot State, Winona State and Upper Iowa. Play will begin Wednesday April 10th against Minot with game one slotted for 2 p.m. from Moccasin Creek Softball Complex.