Aberdeen, S.D. – In their final home stand of the 2017 season, the Northern State University softball team clinched a spot in the NSIC Tournament with a split of Upper Iowa. The Wolves defeated the Peacocks 5-2 in game one, but fell in game two 5-4. With the split, Northern State concludes conference play with a record of 14-15-1 and an overall record of 29-24-1, while Upper Iowa closes out their season 11-19 in the NSIC and 19-33 overall.

Game One

Northern State jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as senior Katelynn Dilts was hit by a pitch to start the contest. Shayla Steinley moved Dilts into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Jenna Helgeson launched a double to left center to put the Wolves up 1-0.

Northern State busted the game open in the bottom of the fifth, rallying for four runs off four singles, a fielding error and a double from the top of the lineup.

Upper Iowa chipped away at their five-run deficit in the top of the sixth, combining for four base hits, however senior Rachel Albright recorded the final out from the mound to seal the victory for the Wolves.

As a unit, Northern State tallied seven hits in 25 at bats for a team average of .280. Jenna Helgeson led the Wolves, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with a double and two runs batted in. Senior Rachel Albright followed up with a double and an RBI of her own.

From the mound, Jamie Fisher secured her 12^th win of the season, improving to 12-10 overall. Fisher recorded two strikeouts, seven fly outs and seven groundouts in 5.2 innings pitched. Rachel Albright earned her first save of the season, allowing just one hit in 1.1 innings pitched.

Game Two

The Wolves captured the lead first once again in the second game of the day as Jamie Fisher doubled to right center in the bottom of the second to gain some momentum for the NSU offense. Fisher quickly advanced to third on a groundout and scored off a Madison Rutter single through the left side.

Upper Iowa answered in the top of the third as Sami Kay Shafranski walked and scored off a double to right center.

Tied at 1-1, Northern State regained control of the lead in the bottom of the inning. Katelynn Dilts blasted a double to left center, followed by a single to left field by freshman Shayla Steinley. With two runners on, Jenna Helgeson lifted her eighth homerun of the season up and over the right field fence to give the Wolves a 4-1 advantage.

Down to their last at bats in the top of the seventh, Upper Iowa rallied with two outs to score four runs off three singles and a double to right field.

Missy Elkins suffered the loss from mound, falling to 13-12 overall on the year. Elkins allowed just five hits in 6.2 innings of work.

The Northern State offense recorded nine hits in 29 at bats for an average of .310. Shayla Steinley led the Wolves with three hits in four plate appearances, while Jenna Helgeson connected for two hits and three runs batted in. Katelynn Dilts and Shayla Steinley each doubled for NSU.

Northern State will continue into the NSIC Tournament as the No. 10 seed, taking on the No. 7 seeded Sioux Falls in the opening round. Action will begin at 10 a.m. from Sherman Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.