St. Joseph, MO - On day two of the Hy-Vee Classic, the Northern State University softball team earned a split, first falling to Northwestern State 7-0 and then bouncing back to defeat Central Missouri 4-3 in extra innings. The Wolves are now 1-3 from Missouri and 14-8 overall in the 2017 season.

Game One- Northwestern State

The Wolves struggled to score runs in their first game of the day, outhitting their opponent 8-to-7. Northern stranded runners four out of the seven innings, leaving eight on base total throughout.

Northwestern Missouri went up 3-0 in the top of the third off two doubles and two singles. The Bearcats added to their lead in the fourth with two walks, two errors and two base hits for four additional runs.

The score remained 7-0 in favor of Northwestern Missouri through the final three innings and the Wolves would suffer their third-straight loss.

Shayla Steinley, Katie Dawson and Courtney Sjerven each tallied two hits, followed by Katelynn Dilts and Madison Rutter with one a piece.

From the mound, Missy Elkins was handed her fifth loss of the year. Elkins allowed just three earned runs in four innings pitched with four strikeouts. Entering in relief, Rachel Albright held the Bearcats scoreless through the final three innings with three strikeouts.

Game Two – Central Missouri

Central Missouri took the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first off a walk, a stolen base and a pair of singles. Jenna Helgeson responded in the bottom of the inning by launching a two-run homerun to deep center to score freshman Shayla Steinley and herself, tying the game 2-2.

The Jennies took control of the lead in the top of the sixth after notching a run off a pair of singles, an error and a stolen base.

In need of a run in the bottom of the seventh, Katie Dawson connected for a single as the lead-off batter. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Jamie Fisher moved pitch runner, Anne Jonas, to second with senior Rachel Albright due up. With one out, Albright hit a line shot back to the pitcher and reached first base safely. With runners on the corners, freshman Madison Rutter lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game at three runs all.

Continuing into extra innings with the international run rule, the Wolves shut down the Jennies 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. As the last out, Courtney Sjerven was placed on second base to start the bottom of the inning for the Wolves. Jamie Fisher advanced Sjerven to third on a sacrifice bunt in the following play. With Jenna Helgeson at the plate, Courtney Sjerven took off towards home on a wild pitch, beating out the throw and scoring the go-ahead run.

As a unit, Northern State recorded five team hits in 25 at bats. Rachel Albright led the Wolves with two hits, followed by Jenna Helgeson with two RBIs. Helgeson's homerun marks her fifth of the season.

With the win, sophomore Jamie Fisher improved to 6-3 on the year from the mound. Fisher held the Jennies to just three earned runs with five strikeouts.

The Wolves will continue action from the Hy-Vee Classic tomorrow at 9 a.m. against Nebraska, Kearney and wrap up their final game from St. Joseph at 1 p.m. versus Missouri Southern State.