Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team finished their weekend from the PC Dome Classic with a spilt against Minnesota Crookston and Dakota State. The Wolves fell to the Golden Eagles 9-1 (5 inn.) and defeated the Trojans 5-4. Northern is now 2-2 overall this season.
Crookston scored first in the top frame of the inning with two runs off starter
Michelle Lanam. Northern however cut the lead in half in the bottom of the frame with a run off the bat of
Jenna Helgeson. Helgeson scored
Shayla Steinley who led off the inning with a single up the middle.
Seven Wolves tallied a hit in the game, led by Helgeson and Steinley with an RBI and run scored respectively.
Jamie Fisher,
Katie Dawson,
Katie Uittenbogaard, and
Courtney Sjerven each tallied singles, while
Madison Rutter notched the lone extra base hit, a double to right center field.
Lanam suffered the loss in the game throwing 1.1 innings and giving up two earned runs on two hits.
Makenzie Merritt entered in relief throwing the final 3.2 innings for the Wolves.
The Wolves opened the second game of the day with a big first inning.
Katie Dawson got things rolling with two outs, notching an infield single.
Jamie Fisher then followed with a single of her own, this time up the middle,
Jenna Helgeson who walked in the second at-bat of the inning.
Kennady Thompson stepped to the plate and cleared the bases for the Wolves with a deep double to right centerfield, and came around to scoring on the following at-bat, as
Madison Rutter single through the five-six hole.
Northern was held scoreless through the second, and added one run in the third off the bat Rutter again. The sophomore flew out to the right fielder, scoring Fisher who has reached on a fielder's choice. Dakota State answered with two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, however it was not enough overcome the first inning rally by the Wolves.
Thompson was the only Wolf to record multiple hits in the win, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI. She also notched one of the team's two doubles alongside Helgeson. Dawson, Fisher, and Rutter added a single each, bringing the team total to seven.
Fisher grabbed her first win of the season on the hill, throwing seven complete innings. The junior gave up just two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.
Next up for the Wolves is 12 games from the sunshine state beginning March 2 at 8 a.m. (CT) against Lake Erie College.
