Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team dropped a pair of close contests to Winona State this afternoon, falling to the Warriors 1-0 in eight innings in game one and 3-1 in game two. With the losses, the Wolves are now 28-23-1 overall and 13-14-1 in conference play, while the Warriors improve to 44-9 overall and 25-3 in the NSIC.

Game One

Both teams remained scoreless through the first seven innings of regulation play. Winona State rallied in the top of the eighth as McKenna Larson and Lani Van Zyl singled to left field to put runners on the corners with two outs. The following two batters walked to score a run, however Jamie Fisher struck out the final Warrior to escape the bases loaded jam.

Northern State went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth and the Warriors clinched their 43^rd win of the 2017 season.

McKenna Larson tossed a no hitter, walking just two batters in eight complete innings from the mound.

Sophomore Jamie Fisher suffered the loss for the Wolves, falling to 11-10 on the year. Fisher allowed just six hits with one earned run.

Game Two

Winona State tacked on three early runs in game two, combining for four hits and two walks. The Wolves responded in the bottom of the fifth as pinch hitter, Mackenzie Thielen drew a walk with no outs. Both Lauren Kunz and Kateylnn Dilts sacrifice bunted to move Thielen to third. Freshman Shayla Steinley launched a base hit to left field to cut the NSU deficit to just two runs.

Both teams were unable to string together hits in the final two innings and Winona State clinched the Saturday sweep.

As a unit, Northern connected for four hits in 23 at bats. Freshman Shayla Steinley led the team going 2-for-3 from the plate with the lone run batted in.

In relief, Rachel Albright held the Warriors to just one hit and no earned runs in six innings from the mound. The senior forced seven fly balls, six groundouts, while notching four strikeouts.

The Wolves will conclude conference play tomorrow versus the Upper Iowa Peacocks. Action will begin at 12 p.m. from the Moccasin Creek Softball Complex.