Live Stats
Clermont, Fla. – The Northern State University softball team collected a split in their first two games today from the NTC Spring Games. The Wolves defeated Nyack College 6-3 in their first match of the day, then fell to Notre Dame College 3-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning. NSU improves to 5-3 overall in the 2016 season.
Game One – Nyack College Nyack College strung together a run in the top of the first inning after a walk and a base hit to center field, however, it did not take long for NSU to respond to the 0-1 deficit.
Leading off for the Wolves,
Kelsey Gale started her first at bat of the day with a double to right field. Fellow senior,
Kalie Maiden singled to center field to advance
Kelsey Gale to third, putting runners on first and third for freshman
Jamie Fisher. Fisher singled to left field, notching an RBI, and tying the game 1-1.
The Wolves broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning as
Kalie Maiden and
Rachel Albright each tallied base hits. With two runners on,
Macey Engel was hit by a pitch to load the bases for
Brittney Lash. The senior approached the plate and connected for a grand slam to center field, good for her second homerun of the season.
Northern State maintained a 6-1 lead until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Warriors looked to strike a comeback. Their lead-off batter homered to left field for the first run of the inning. Nyack drew a walk, and singled down the right field line to make it a 6-3 game, but
Missy Elkins forced a groundout back to the mound to seal the NSU victory.
Brittney Lash led Northern State offensively, going a perfect 2-2 with a walk, base hit and a grand slam.
Kalie Maiden followed up tallying three hits in four at bats, scoring two runs for the Wolves.
Missy Elkins collected her third win from the mound, holding the Warriors to three earned runs. Elkins picked up five strikeouts in 29 faced batters.
Game Two – Notre Dame College The Wolves jumped on Notre Dame College in the first inning, scoring two runs early.
Kelsey Gale led off the game once again with a double, this time down the left field line. After a
Kalie Maiden single,
Brittney Lash doubled to left field marking two RBI's for NSU.
Notre Dame College responded to the 2-0 Northern State lead in the bottom of the second inning. The Falcons tied the game 2-2 after a pair of walks and a single, scoring their final run of the inning off of a wild pitch.
The Wolves continued to accumulate base runners, but did not score again until the top of the seventh inning. The top of the order, starting with
Kelsey Gale and
Kalie Maiden, strung together a pair of singles to put pressure on the Falcons. Freshman
Jamie Fisher drew a full count walk to fill the bases. With quick thinking during the following at bat,
Kelsey Gale advanced home on a wild pitch.
Northern State would head into the bottom of the seventh with the 3-2 advantage. Notre Dame put runners on second and third with two outs in the inning when pinch hitter, Shelby Stevens singled to second base scoring the two winning runs.
The Wolves recorded nine hits in the match, led by
Kelsey Gale who went 3-4 from the plate. Gale collected two doubles and scored two runs.
Kalie Maiden added another two hits with one RBI.
Jamie Fisher was handed just her second loss of the season, holding the Falcons to six hits in 25 at bats.
Action will pick up once again at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m when the Wolves take on Northwood University and California University of PA.
