St. Joseph, MO – The Northern State University softball team dropped a pair of close games on their first day of the Hy-Vee Classic, falling to No. 18 Missouri Western State 6-5 and Northeastern State 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh. With the losses, the Wolves are now 13-7 overall in the 2017 season.

Game One – Missouri Western State

The Wolves were first to tally runs in the contest, tacking on three in the first half inning. Katelynn Dilts was hit by a pitch, Shayla Steinley singled to left field and Jenna Helgeson walked to load the bases. After a pair of strikeouts, Jamie Fisher walked a run in, followed by a single to left center by Rachel Albright to score two more.

The Griffons tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the inning from an error, two singles, a stolen base and a double.

Northern State scored once again as freshman Shayla Steinley collected her second hit of the day to start the top of the third. Steinley advanced to third on a Jenna Helgeson double to center field. With two runners on, Kennady Thompson singled up the middle to score Steinley. Junior Katie Dawson followed with an RBI sac fly to right field.

Down by two, Northwest Missouri loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning with one out, but the Wolves were able to escape the jam with the 5-4 lead.

The Griffons added runs in the fourth and the sixth innings off a pair of solo homeruns, capturing the one-run lead with just an inning left. The Wolves threatened with a base runner in the top of the seventh, however were unable to sneak a sixth run across and would fall 6-5.

NSU notched six team hits, led by Shayla Steinley with two. Kennady Thompson, Katie Dawson and Rachel Albright each connected for RBIs for the Wolves.

Albright recorded a no decision from the mound, while Jamie Fisher suffered her third loss of the year. Rachel Albright allowed eight hits and one earned run in three innings and Jamie Fisher gave up just two hits for two earned runs.

Game Two- Northeastern State

The two teams remained scoreless through the first three innings. Northern gained the lead first once again as Shayla Steinley singled down the left field line to lead off the top of the fourth. Jenna Helgeson followed with a double down the right field side to put two runners in scoring position. With two outs Jamie Fisher singled to score Steinley. Senior Rachel Albright added an RBI infield single to give the Wolves a two-run advantage.

Missy Elkins and the Northern State defense held the Riverhawks until the bottom of the seventh inning. Northeastern's lead-off batter reached base with singled up the middle, and scored in the next at bat as Paige Gann hit a triple down the right field line.

Down by one, the RiverHawks connected for an infield single to tie the game. After the runner advanced to scoring position off a stolen base, Carlee Gann hit a walk-off single to left field to seal the 3-2 victory for Northeastern State.

Missy Elkins was handed her fourth loss on the mound, dropping to an even 4-4 on the year. Elkins held the RiverHawks to five hits, with three strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched.

From the plate, Northern State tallied five hits in 26 at bats. Sophomore Jamie Fisher led the way, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Shayla Steinley, Jenna Helgeson and Rachel Albright rounded out the NSU offense with one hit a piece.

The Wolves will continue play from the Hy-Vee Classic tomorrow against Northwest Missouri State and the University of Central Missouri at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Heritage Park.