Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team collected their second sweep of the week in defeating Concordia- St. Paul. The Wolves won 10-4 in game one, and clinched the sweep with an 8-0 victory after five innings in game two. NSU advanced to 14-22 overall and 6-8 in conference action, while the Golden Bears drop to 11-23 overall and 5-9 in the NSIC.
 
Game One
 
Concordia- St. Paul put two runs on the board first in the top of the second and third innings off of three hits, one walk and one error.
 
Northern State responded in the top of the fourth as Courtney Sjervan started the inning with a lead-off walk. Pinch hitter, Katelyn Szeles beat out a bunt to the right side in the next at bat to place runners on first and second. After Kalie Maiden was hit by a pitch, Rachel Albright approached the plate next with the bases loaded. Albright ripped a single up the middle to tie the game.
 
Macey Engel kept the NSU rally going with a single through the middle. With the 3-2 lead, Katelynn Dilts connected for a double to left field, tacking on two more runs for the Wolves. Jamie Fisher and Brittney Lash added RBIs to push the Northern State lead to 7-2.
 
The Wolves shutout the Golden Bears in the top of the fourth, and tallied an additional run off of a Rachel Albright single and a Jamie Fisher double in the bottom of the inning.
 
In the top of the fifth, Concordia- St. Paul plated a run after two walks, a wild pitch and a pair of groundouts.
 
With the 8-3 lead, Northern State added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth as Brittney Lash, Rachel Albright and Macey Engel each singled.
 
After holding the Golden Bears to just one more run for the remaining two innings, the Wolves sealed the 10-4 victory.
 
Jamie Fisher collected her fifth win from the mound, holding Concordia- St. Paul to three earned runs in seven complete innings pitched. The freshman held the Golden Bears to eight hits with six strikeouts in the outing.
 
Northern State connected for 10 hits in 30 at bats. Junior Rachel Albright led the Wolves from the plate going a perfect 4-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Macey Engel and Jamie Fisher each tallied two hits in their plate appearances.
 
Game Two
 
The Wolves were first to score in game two, as Kalie Maiden led off the bottom of the first with a walk. The senior advanced to second on a wild pitch to put herself in scoring position for Katelynn Dilts. Dilts moved her to third on an unassisted groundout to first. With one out, Rachel Abright drilled a grounder to the shortstop to score Kalie Maiden for the first run of the game.
 
Concordia-St. Paul loaded the bases in the top of the second off of a walk and two singles, however junior Missy Elkins struck out the next three batters to escape the jam.
 
Northern State exploded offensively in the fourth as the Wolves loaded the bases for Jamie Fisher. The freshman was patient at the plate, taking a walk for a run. With no outs, Brittney Lash lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to add another run for the Wolves. Courtney Sjervan kept the rally alive with a single to short to put NSU up 4-0.
 
Missy Elkins and the Northern State defense shutout the Golden Bears once again in the top of the fifth for the opportunity to add runs in the bottom of the inning. The Wolves ripped four singles and forced two walks to end the game in the fifth.
 
From the mound, Missy Elkins improved her record to 9-10 on the year. Elkins recorded four strikeouts and held Concordia- St. Paul to 2 hits.
 
The Wolves tallied eight hits and five walks from the plate. Rachel Albright led the team again with two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored. Jamie Fisher and Brittney Lash both knocked in two RBIs in game two.
 
Northern State will face Minnesota State tomorrow at 12 and 2 p.m. from Moccasin Creek.