NSIC/US Bank Softball Tournament Website |
NSIC/US Bank Softball Tournament BracketBemidji, Minn. – The Northern State University softball team sealed their fourth place standing heading into the NSIC/US Bank Softball Tournament with a two game sweep of Bemidji State in the final day of regular season action. Northern took game one in eight innings with a score of 2-1, and completed the sweep with a 6-5 victory in game two. The Wolves finish the regular season with a record of 32-20 overall and 19-10 in league play.
Game One Kelsey Gale continued her stellar weekend going a perfect 4-4 in game one. Gale scored the team's decisive run in the top of the eighth after singling to left.
Katelynn Dilts was the first run scorer for the Wolves, leading off the fifth with a single up the middle. Dilts came around to score off Gale's double to right center with two outs in the inning.
Northern combined for ten team hits in the game, led by Gale with four.
Rachel Albright was second on the team with pair of singles.
Kami Smesmo threw her 20
th win of the season, in a complete eight innings for NSU. The season gave up one earned run on four hits and three walks.
Game Two The Wolves offense pulled together six runs in game two, stringing together eight hits.
Kelsey Gale led off the game with a walk and came around to score as
Eryn Yancy singled to left center. Yancy advanced on the throw by the left fielder and scored on a catcher's obstruction.
Northern added two more runs in the second led off by
Courtney Moore with a single to right. Gale came in clutch for the second game in row with a double to left center scoring Moore. With Gale in scoring position,
Kalie Maiden stepped to the plate and poked a single up the middle for her first run batted in of the game.
Two run innings were the story of the day for the Wolves, as they added a pair in the sixth.
Michaela Liebl reached first by virtue of a hit by chance, to begin the NSU sixth.
Katelynn Dilts and
Kelsey Gale connected for back-to-back doubles to left center and the Wolves were up 6-2.
Bemidji State threated with three runs in the seventh, however
Missy Elkins worked her way out of the jam. Elkins threw a complete game giving up five runs on 11 hits, and striking out three. The win marked Elkins 11
th of the season.
Northern now travels to Sioux Falls for the NSIC/US Bank Softball Tournament this Thursday through Saturday. The fourth seeded Wolves will match-up against fifth seeded Wayne State in the opening round of games. First pitch between the Wolves and Wildcats is scheduled for 12 p.m., from Sherman Park.
