Moorhead, Minn. – The Northern State University softball team split in a pair of road games against MSU Moorhead this afternoon. The Wolves defeated the Dragons 6-1 in game one, but fell in game two by a final score of 2-1 after 10 innings of play. NSU is now 19-25 overall and 9-11 in conference action, while MSUM is currently 13-23 overall and 6-14 in the NSIC.

Game One

Northern State was the first of the two teams to plate a run, coming in the top of the second inning. Katelynn Dilts led the Wolves off by reaching on an error by MSUM's third baseman. On the next play, Brittney Lash ripped a double to the fence, however Dilts was thrown out in the relay home. In the following plate appearance, with Lash on third for NSU, Jamie Fisher connected for an RBI single through the left side. The Wolves would go on to load the bases, but were unable to add to their 1-0 lead.

MSUM responded in the bottom of the inning as their lead-off batter was walked. KyLee Bartholomay entered the game to pinch run for the Dragons. The freshman stole second base with senior Morgan Nybo at the plate. Nybo singled through the left side to put runners on the corners for Aunica Novacek. Novacek executed a suicide squeeze to tie the game at one all.

After three scoreless innings from both the Wolves and the Dragons, NSU's Macey Engel started the bottom of the sixth with a double down the right field line. In the next at bats, Katelynn Dilts reached on an error and Brittney Lash singled to score two more for the Wolves. After two more singles off the bats of Jamie Fisher and Michaela Liebl and two RBIs from Katie Dawson and Kelsey Gale, Northern State would end the inning with the 5-1 advantage.

NSU tacked on an additional run in the top of the seventh off an error and a Brittney Lash RBI single up the middle to seal the 6-1 victory in game one.

Senior Brittney Lash led the Wolves offensively, tallying three hits, one walk, two RBIs and two runs scored. As a unit, the Wolves recorded nine hits in 31 at bats, nabbing two doubles.

Freshman Jamie Fisher collected the win from the mound, advancing to 7-10 on the year. Fisher held the Dragons to just one earned run and four hits in seven complete innings pitched.

Game Two

The second contest between the two teams remained a battle throughout, as the two teams combined for three earned runs in 10 innings of play. The Wolves were first to score once again, tallying their one run of the game in the top of the first.

Senior Kalie Maiden singled to left field, and stole second to place herself in scoring positon for Rachel Albright. The junior mimicked Maiden with another singled to left field, and plated the first run of the game.

Northern State would maintain the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh inning as Jill Fox singled to right center with one out. Lauren Meeker doubled to deep right center in the following at bat to score Fox from first and tie the game 1-1. Missy Elkins escaped the inning by forcing two groundouts to head into extra innings.

The Wolves struggled to string together hits in the 8^th, 9^th and 10^th as they recorded just one hit off the bat of senior Macey Engel. MSUM took advantage in the bottom of the 10^th, leading off with a single to left field. The Dragons quickly loaded the bases with no outs off of a fielder's choice and an infield single. In the final at bat of the game, Taylor Roddie drilled a walk-off single to left field to score Morgan Anderson, ending the game 2-1 in favor of MSUM.

The Wolves collected six team hits in 33 at bats in game two. Macey Engel led NSU from the plate, with two base hits and a double, while Rachel Albright drove in the team's one run.

Missy Elkins was handed the loss from the mound, falling to 10-12 in the 2016 season. Elkins held the Dragons to eight hits in nine innings pitched, collecting a season-high eight strikeouts.

Northern State will continue conference play with two double-headers this weekend on the road against Upper Iowa and Winona State. The Wolves will take on the Peacocks at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday and face the Warriors at 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday.