St. Joseph, Mo. – The Northern State University softball team dropped two one run battles in Sunday softball play to No. 12 Emporia State and Central Missouri. NSU finished the three game tournament 3-3 with some helpful regional wins. The Wolves are now 7-9 overall as they head into the start of the 2014 NSIC conference season.
Game One: #12 Emporia State
Northern, the visiting team in the game, scored first in the top of the second off
Rachel Albright's third homerun of the season, a blast to left center field. Albright was 3-4 in the game with two singles and two RBI.
Kelsey Gale improved her game hit streak to ten with a single and double to centerfield. Senior
Lindsey Hubler recorded her first double of the season in the top of the fourth with a shot to left field.
Lauren Kunz and
Jess Vernon each added a single to bring the team total to nine hits.
NSU starter
Kami Smesmo suffered the loss for the Wolves giving up three earned runs. Smesmo struck out a season high seven batters, but continued to give up extra base hits. Two errors and one unearned run were the game makers for ESU as they scored two in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead.
Game Two: Central Missouri
The Wolves went down early in the game 0-2 with the Jennies in the second and third innings. Northern hurler
Missy Elkins took the loss after giving up two earned runs and six hits. Elkins struck out two batters in six innings of work.
Rachel Albright continued to shine for the Wolves singling to right in the top of the fifth and scoring the teams only run. Albright crossed the plate after
Jess Vernon executed the suicide squeeze. Vernon recorded two sacrifice bunts in the game. The NSU offense was led statistically by
Lauren Kunz who recorded two singles to the right side in three at bats. Kunz and Albright combined for the only NSU hits in the loss.
Northern will now return home before a weekday road trip to take on the Dragons of Moorhead. MSU Moorhead and the Wolves will match up Tuesday with game times set for 1 and 3 p.m. from Minnesota. This will be the NSIC opener for both squads.