Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team concluded their 2017 season today from the NSIC Tournament, falling to No. 7 seeded University of Sioux Falls 7-5 and No. 5 seeded St. Cloud State 7-6. The Wolves end the year 29-26-1 overall and 14-15-1 in the NSIC.
Game One
The Cougars captured the early lead in the contest one, opening the first five innings of play with a 5-0 lead.
Northern State chipped away at the deficit in the top of the sixth, as
Shayla Steinley led off the inning with an infield base hit, followed by a
Jenna Helgeson walk to put two runners on for
Kennady Thompson. The sophomore kept the rally alive with a double down the left field line to score Steinley.
With runners on the corners,
Jamie Fisher singled through the right side and
Rachel Albright lifted a sacrifice fly to left field.
Madison Rutter batted in the final run of the inning with an infield hit to the right side, scoring pinch runner,
Anne Jonas on an overthrow.
USF tallied two runs off two walks and a single to left center in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-4 contest. In Northern State's final at bat, senior
Katelynn Dilts launched a homerun to right field to make it a two-run game, however the Cougars turned a groundball doubled play to seal the victory.
As a unit, the Wolves recorded seven hits in 26 at bats for a team average of .269.
Shayla Steinley led NSU from the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double.
Katelynn Dilts,
Shayla Steinley,
Kennady Thompson,
Jamie Fisher and
Rachel Albright all recorded RBIs for the Wolves.
Jamie Fisher suffered the loss from the mound, falling to 12-11 on the year. In relief,
Missy Elkins held the Cougars to six hits and five earned runs in four innings of work.
Game Two
St. Cloud State strung together a solo homerun, two triples, and four base hits to take the 7-0 lead after three innings in the elimination game.
The Wolves responded in the top of the fourth with three runs of their own.
Jess Vernon,
Madison Rutter and
Lauren Kunz each knocked in runs for NSU.
Northern continued to work back in the top of the fifth, tacking on two runs from a
Jamie Fisher single to left field and a
Rachel Albright double though the left side. The Wolves loaded the bases with two outs but were unable to even the score.
Holding the Huskies in the next two innings, the Wolves were down to their last plate appearance.
Kennady Thompson and
Jamie Fisher recorded back-to-back doubles to make it 7-6 with no outs, however the SCSU defense tallied three putouts to continue into the next round of the tournament.
NSU combined for 10 hits in 29 at bats for a team batting average of .345.
Jenna Helgeson,
Kennady Thompson,
Jamie Fisher and
Rachel Albright each notched two hits. Fisher led the Wolves with two runs batted in.
Missy Elkins finished the year 13-13 from the mound. In relief,
Rachel Albright held the Huskies to two hits in four innings with no earned runs.
Seven Northern State seniors, including;
Lauren Kunz,
Kaitlyn Szeles,
Katelynn Dilts,
Missy Elkins,
Jess Vernon,
Ashley Clapp and
Rachel Albright exhaust their eligibility in the NSIC battle.
