Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team dropped a pair of conference games this afternoon against the University of Minnesota Duluth from Junction Avenue Field. The Bulldogs collected the sweep with a 4-0 victory in game one and notched game two by a final score of 3-2.  Northern State falls to 21-29 overall and 11-15 in conference action, while Minnesota Duluth advances to 29-12 overall and 18-6 in the NSIC. The Wolves are currently ranked 10^th in the NSIC softball standings as they prepare to take on Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston in their final home games of the 2016 season.

Game One

In their first match-up of the season, the two teams were held to a combined four hits, locked in at 0-0 until the bottom of the sixth. Minnesota Duluth's Sammi Sadler and Hannah Schmoll led off the inning with a pair of singles to put runners on first and second. After a stolen base and an RBI single, the Bulldogs took the 1-0 lead. With one out, Minnesota Duluth quickly loaded the bases with Becky Smith at the plate. Smith connected for a triple to right center to expand the UMD lead to 4-0 with just one inning remaining in the contest.

Northern State looked to spark an offensive attack in the top of the seventh as Macey Engel led off with a single up the middle. However, with one runner on, the next three batters were unable to unleash against Minnesota Duluth's pitcher, Cayli Sadler.

Cayli Sadler recorded her 12^th victory from the mound, shutting out the Wolves offensively and holding the team to three hits. Macey Engel, Rachel Albright and Courtney Sjerven each tallied hits for NSU at the plate.

Jamie Fisher was handed the loss in game one, falling to 11-14 late in the season. Fisher held the Bulldogs to six hits and four earned runs with five strikeouts in her appearance from the mound.

Game Two

The second match of the day was a dog fight between the two teams, coming down to final inning of play. Minnesota Duluth was first to tack on a run in the bottom of the second as back-to-back doubles plated Becky Smith for the 1-0 Bulldog lead.

Northern State was quick to respond to the one run deficit as seniors Kalie Maiden and Kelsey Gale started a one out rally with a pair of singles through the infield. In the following at bat, Katelynn Dilts walked to load the bases for Rachel Albright. The junior reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Gale from third. Due up next, Macey Engel, ripped a hard hit ball between first and second to give NSU the 2-1 advantage.

UMD plated their second run of the game in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off double, followed by an RBI single. The two teams would stay locked in at 2-2 until the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the final inning off of an error, a single and a walk. With one out and the bases jammed, senior Kelsey Gale fielded a ground ball and fired home to get the lead runner and the second out of the inning. The Northern State defense had been solid with the bases loaded, however in the next at bat, Ashley Schiling connected for the game-winning hit to left field to seal the 3-2 UMD victory.

NSU compiled six hits and two walks as a team, leaving six base runners on. Senior Macey Engel led the Wolves from the plate, going 2-3 with an RBI.

Appearing in her 25^th game of the season, Missy Elkins was charged with the loss for Northern State. Elkins held the Bulldogs to seven hits and three earned runs, falling to 11-14 on the year.