Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team recorded a pair of NSIC victories versus Sioux Falls in Sunday softball play. The Wolves improve to 17-10 on the year and 4-0 in conference play after the weekend sweep of both Southwest Minnesota State and University of Sioux Falls.
  
Game One
 
Northern started the high scoring first game of the day with a run in the top of the first inning. Kelsey Gale double to right center and came around to score off a wild pitch. NSU added a total of 19 more runs in the game, 14 of which were earned. The Wolves defeated the Cougars 20-17, as each team scored in five out of the seven innings of play.
 
Kelsey Gale had a standout game for NSU, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the plate. The junior added five runs scored, six RBI, and one walk. Gale recorded her first career grand-slam in the third going opposite field in her second plate appearance of the inning. Lash, Liebl, and Kunz scored on the blast to put the Wolves up 9-0. Katelynn Dilts was second on the team with three hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Rachel Albright, Macey Engel, and Brittney Lash each recorded two hits apiece.
 
The Wolves busted out a season high 17 hits in the win, as Kalie Maiden, Eryn Yancy, and Michaela Liebl each added one of their own. Yancy tallied her seventh homerun in the third inning, with a shot to left center field. The three run jack scored Kelsey Gale and Kalie Maiden who had walked and singled in the previous at-bats.
 
Kami Smesmo earned her 11^th win of the year throwing a complete seven innings for NSU. The seniors struck-out six in the game. The nearly three hour long game, saw the Wolves score eight runs in both the third and fifth innings. 
 
Game Two
 
The second game of the day saw far less scoring between the Wolves and the Cougars. The two teams were scoreless through the first four innings of play. Northern scored first in the top of the fifth, as Brittney Lash homered to right center.
 
Sioux Falls answered back in the sixth with a homerun of their own off the bat of Netty. The Wolves however sealed the victory with four runs in the top of the seventh. Kalie Maiden, Brittney Lash, and Lauren Kunz all singled in the final inning of play, while Lash and Kunz came around to score. Also scoring was Ashley Clapp, running for Macey Engel, and Kelsey Gale who had reached base by virtue of a walk and error.
 
Missy Elkins held Sioux Falls in the seventh to secure her fifth win of the season. The sophomore gave up one earned run and seven hits, while striking out one.
 
Brittney Lash led NSU in game to going 3-for-3 from the plate, with a homerun and two runs scored. Lauren Kunz was second on the team with two hits and one run scored. The Wolves tallied eight hits in the win.
 
Northern will open the home season this Tuesday from Mocassin Creek at 2 and 4 p.m. versus St. Cloud State.