Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team fell to the University of Sioux Falls 1-3 and 6-9 in their first conference games of the season. The Wolves drop to 10-16 overall and 0-2 in NSIC play, while the Cougars improve to 20-7 overall and 4-0 in the conference after the double-header.
Game One Senior
Kelsey Gale got the Wolves going early in the match-up, drilling a lead-off homerun to left field in the bottom of the first inning, recording her third of the season.
NSU maintained the 1-0 advantage through the third, however, the University of Sioux Falls responded in the top of the fourth inning. The Cougars reached on an error and hit a homerun to left to take the 2-1 lead.
Sioux Falls recorded a pair of base hits and an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the sixth inning to add another run to their total. In the bottom of the inning,
Kelsey Gale singled to right field, but the Wolves were unable to hit the senior around.
In the 1-3 loss,
Missy Elkins fell to 6-7 in the 2016 season. Elkins held the Cougars to seven hits and one earned run, collecting three strikeouts in seven complete innings from the mound.
The Wolves tallied six hits in 25 at bats in the home opener.
Kelsey Gale led the NSU offense, going 2-3 from the plate with a solo homerun. Senior
Kalie Maiden followed with two base hits of her own in three at bats.
Game Two The Cougars jumped out offensively, earning a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning off of three base hits and a double to right center.
Northern State inched their way back in the bottom of the second inning as
Macey Engel led the rally off with a walk.
Jamie Fisher followed with a single through the left side, putting runners of first and third for junior
Rachel Albright. Albright grounded out to the first basemen to plate the first run of the game for NSU. Micheala Liebl approached the plate next with two outs and ripped a single up the middle to make it a 2-3 game.
USF added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning, collecting four runs off of three hits and two errors, putting them on top of the Wolves by a score of 7-2. NSU added a run in each of the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth,
Rachel Albright single through the left side and scored off of a
Michaela Liebl single to left center.
The Wolves scored in the following inning after a walk, a single through the right side from junior
Katelynn Dilts and a sacrifice fly off the bat of
Macey Engel. The Wolves would cut the deficit to three runs after four complete innings.
Northern State continued to be an offensive threat in the bottom of the sixth as
Jamie Fisher led off the inning with a single up the middle, followed by another single from Rachel Alright down the left field line. With no outs,
Michaela Liebl stepped up to the plate and singled to third base to add a run for the Wolves. The final run of the inning would come off of an RBI double to right center from senior
Kelsey Gale, and NSU would enter the seventh inning down 7-6.
USF collected two insurance runs in the top of the inning to make the score 9-6. Due to a scoreless bottom of the seventh, the Cougars would collect their 20
th victory of the season.
Jamie Fisher recorded the loss from the mound, falling to 3-7 on the year. The freshman collected five strikeouts, holding the Cougars to six earned runs in seven complete innings.
Northern State notched 10 hits in 28 at bats, led by Michaela Liebel who went 3-3 from the plate with three RBIs.
Katelynn Dilts,
Jamie Fisher and
Rachel Albright each picked up two hits in three at bats against the USF pitching staff.
Northern State will continue their home series tomorrow from Moccasin Creek Softball Complex, taking on Southwest Minnesota State at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m..
