Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team dropped their final double-header of the weekend today against Augustana University. NSU fell 2-6 in game one and dropped the second contest 5-6 in the eighth inning. The Wolves are now 12-22 overall and 2-8 in conference play, while the Vikings advance to 22-11 and 8-2 in NSIC action. Augustana currently holds a second place position in the conference standings.
Game One
Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the second inning when Augustana's Shelby Peterson connected for a solo homerun with one out to take the 1-0 lead. The Vikings shook up the NSU defense in the bottom of the following inning to squeak another run in and make it a 2-0 game.
Northern State got their offense going in the top of the four as
Rachel Albright led off the inning with a walk. Sophomore
Mackenzie Thielen pitch ran for Albright, and stole second in the next at bat to place herself in scoring position.
Macey Engel advanced the sophomore to third on an unassisted groundout to first base.
Katelynn Dilts approached the plate with Thielen on third and hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop, reaching on the error and putting the Wolves on the board.
The Wolves kept the momentum going in the fifth inning as junior
Lauren Kunz was awarded first base on an Augustana fielding error.
Kelsey Gale singled back at the pitcher to put runners on first and second base for Rachel Alright. Albright drilled the ball left of the shortstop to tie the game 2-2.
Augustana gained possession of the lead in the bottom of the sixth off of four hits and one error to end the contest with the 6-2 victory.
The Vikings recorded six hits in 26 at bats, while the Wolves tallied three hits and four walks in the contest.
Kelsey Gale,
Brittney Lash and
Rachel Albright collected base hits for the Wolves.
Mackenzie Thielen and
Katelynn Dilts each notched a stolen base.
Jamie Fisher falls to 3-10 on the year. The freshman held Augustana to one earned run, while picking up five strikouts in 5.1 innings pitched.
Game Two
Northern State took control of the lead in the top of the second as
Brittney Lash was patient at the plate, leading off the inning with a walk.
Michaela Liebl moved Lash to second off of a sacrifice bunt to the left side. Approaching the plate next,
Lauren Kunz singled to right center to score the first run of the game.
The Wolves added another run in the top of third inning after a
Jamie Fisher single to second base scored pinch runner,
Ashley Clapp.
Augustana matched Northern State's two runs in the same inning as Sarah Kennedy drilled a two-run homerun to left center for the Vikings.
Jamie Fisher started the top of the fifth with a one-out walk.
Jenna Helgeson pinch ran for Fisher and stole second with senior
Brittney Lash at the plate. Lash ripped a double to right center with a full count to take the put the Wolves up 3-2.
Northern State plated two additional runs in the top of the sixth off of one walk, two hits and a stolen base, entering the top of the seventh with a three-run lead.
Augustana put two runners on in the bottom of the inning with two outs. Maggie Kadrlik unloaded on an inside pitch for a three-run homer down the left field line to tie the game 5-5.
Kalie Maiden singled to left field to start the top of the eighth, however, the Wolves were unable to move the senior around the bases.
The Vikings put runners on second and third from a single through the left side and a double to left center. Pinch hitter, Katie Parker, singled through the left side to score the go-ahead run.
Augustana collected 15 hits in the 6-5 victory, led by Maggie Kadrlik going 3-4 from the plate with three RBIs. Northern State finished with 10 hits in 34 at bats.
Brittney Lash led NSU offensively with two hits, one RBI and one run scored.
The Wolves continue NSIC action Wednesday on the road at 2 and 4 p.m. against Minot State.
