St. Joseph, M.O. - The Northern State University softball team competed in two games from the Apple Market Classic, facing Missouri Southern State and Missouri Western State. The Wolves were defeated by MSSU 3-4, and fell to MWSU 1-11 in five innings. The Lions improve to 14-16, while the Griffons advance to 19-7 on the year. NSU is now 9-11 overall in the 2016 season.

Game One – Missouri Southern State University

The Wolves were shaken up in the top of the first inning as the first two Lion's batters forced walks to put runners on first and second base. Abi Corbett of MSSU approached the plate with no outs, and drilled a three-run homerun to right field.

With the 0-3 deficit, the Wolves looked to answer in the bottom of the inning. Senior Kelsey Gale started the offensive attack with a lead-off walk, followed by Kalie Maiden with a single through the left side. Jamie Fisher moved the two runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt to the thirdman. Macey Engel hit in the first run of the game for NSU with a sacrifice fly to left field, making it a 3-1 contest.

The Lions picked up a run in the top of the second off of three hits and one error, however, the Wolves' defense managed to escape the inning leaving the bases loaded.

After three innings of scoreless play, the Wolves fought back and recorded a run in the bottom of the fifth. Rachel Albright led off the inning with a single to left field, and advanced to second on an infield groundout. Senior Kelsey Gale ripped a single to center to score Ashley Clapp, who pinch ran for Albright. The Wolves narrowed the spread to 2-4 heading into the sixth.

Down to the final half inning, NSU rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Katelynn Dilts walked to starts things off for the Wolves. Due up next, Kelsey Gale reached on an error on the shortstop, and Kalie Maiden followed with a walk of her own to load the bases. With two outs, Macey Engel connected for a single to left field scoring a run for Northern State, however, Kelsey Gale was thrown out at home plate as she attempted to tie the game.

In the 3-4 loss, the Wolves recorded five hits and five walks. Seniors Kelsey Gale and Macey Engel lead the way as Gale went 1-2 with two walks and two stolen bases, while Engel went 1-3 with two RBIs. Kalie Maiden, Brittney Lash and Rachel Albright also connected for base hits in the match-up.

Missy Elkins suffered the loss for Northern State, falling to 4-4 on the season. Elkins held the Lions to four runs through seven complete innings, collecting three strikeouts.

Game Two – Missouri Western State University

The Wolves got down early once again in game two, after a first inning homerun from the Griffons. Northern State responded in the second as senior Brittney Lash led off with a walk, and advanced on a pass ball. Katelynn Dilts moved Lash to third on a sacrifice bunt. With one outs, Lauren Kunz hit an RBI grounder to second base to tie the game 1-1.

The game stayed locked in at 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth when the Griffons plated two runs off of a two-run homerun. Missouri Western exploded for eight more runs in the bottom of the fifth off of two walks, three errors, a double, a single and a grand slam by Rebekah Mueller to seal the 11-1 victory for the Griffons.

Seniors Kelsey Gale and Kalie Maiden recorded the two hits for the Wolves. Freshman Jamie Fisher was handed the loss, falling to 3-5 on the year. Fisher held the Griffons to three earned runs and seven hits in 4.1 innings pitched.

NSU will continue action from the Apple Market Classic tomorrow at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. where they will take on Washburn University and Northwest Missouri State.