St. Joseph, M.O. – The Northern State University softball team picked up a split in their final day from the Apple Market Classic, defeating Emporia State University 1-0 and then falling to Pittsburg State 2-6 to finish out the weekend. The Wolves ended the tournament 1-5, and are now 10-14 early in the 2016 season.
Game One – Emporia State University
In a solid defensive outing from both teams, the game remained tied 0-0 through five complete innings of play. The scoring drought came to an end in the top of the sixth when senior Macey Engel ripped a solo homerun to left field to put the Wolves on top 1-0.
The Wolves would go on to hold the Hornets in the last two innings to clinch the 1-0 victory. Northern compiled five hits as a unit, coming off of the bats of Kelsey Gale, Macey Engel, Katie Dawson, and Rachel Albright. NSU left six runners on base and forced two walks in the match-up.
Junior Missy Elkins recorded her sixth win of the season, now 6-6 on the year. Elkins collected her second shutout, holding ESU to just four hits with two strikeouts and no walks from the mound.
Game Two – Pittsburg State University
The Wolves jumped on the Gorillas early in the bottom of the first inning, collecting a run off of three hits and one error. Pittsburg State managed to escape the inning in bases loaded jam by forcing a groundout to third base.
PSU responded to the 0-1 deficit by sneaking in a run off of a fielder's choice in the top of the third, however, the Wolves turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Pittsburg State did not let the 1-1 tie last long, as they started the top of the fourth with a lead-off double. Two walks, another double to left center and two base hits followed to total five more runs for the Gorillas.
Northern looked to fight back in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Jamie Fisher led off the inning with a single to left field. After one out, Macey Engel followed with a walk. A pass ball in the next at bat advanced runners to second and third. Katelynn Dilts loaded the bases with a bunt single to the right side. Junior Courtney Moore approached the plate next and hit a hard grounder to the short stop to add a run for NSU. The Wolves were unable to plate the two additional runners with two outs and the inning ended with Northern State down by four.
Due to scoreless sixth and seventh innings, the contest ended 6-2 as the Gorillas picked up their 20th victory of the season. Northern State recorded nine hits in 32 at bats. Lauren Kunz went 2-3 from the plate, and juniors Rachel Albright and Courtney Moore tallied the RBIs in the contest.
In her third start of the season, Rachel Albright was handed the loss from the mound, falling to 1-2 overall. Albright pitched three complete innings allowing four earned runs in six hits. Freshman Jamie Fisher entered in relief, finishing the final four innings. Fisher held the Gorillas to just two hits, striking out three batters.
Northern State's double-header against Minnesota State University Moorhead has been postponed to April 14th. The Wolves will begin NSIC conference play this upcoming Friday against Sioux Falls at 1 and 3 p.m., and continue the home series on Saturday versus Southwest Minnesota State at 1 and 3 p.m. once again.
