Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team split with Bemidji State in the NSIC opener on Friday evening, falling 6-2 and winning 4-2. Following the NSIC opener, Northern moves to 11-11 overall and 1-1 in the league.
The Beavers scored first in game one, notching runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth. Northern tallied a run in both the second and seventh, as
Jamie Fisher doubled in
Kennady Thompson who tallied one out double in the second and
Katie Dawson belted her fifth homerun of the season in the seventh.
Fisher led the offense in the game one loss, going 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI. Dawson grabbed a homerun, while Thompson notched a double and
Mackenzie Thielen tallied a pinch hit single.
Fisher started on the hill throwing 4.0 innings, giving up five runs, four earned, on nine hits. The junior tallied five strikeouts and gave up one walk.
Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing the final three innings. Merritt held the Beavers to just one earned run on one hit, with two strikeouts.
Northern struck first in game two, notching a run off the bat of Thompson.
Courtney Sjerven led off the inning with a double down the right field line, and came around to score on Thompson's single up the middle. The Wolves extended their lead in the third, as
Emma Terveer (Thompson) scored on a single through the left side by Helgeson.
The Beavers tied things up notching one run in both the fourth and fifth, however the Wolves were not finished. Fisher kick started the NSU rally with a 1-out single to centerfield.
Natalie Gabbert entered as a pinch runner, and advanced to third on a single by Helgeson. Gabbert then came around to score on a sacrifice fly to center by
Katie Uittenbogaard. Helgeson also scored on the play off an errant throw by the first baseman.
Fisher made her second start of the day, and was able to hold the Beavers scoreless through the final two innings, earning her seventh win of the season. The junior gave up two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
Thompson led the team in game two, going 3-for-4 with one of the team's three doubles.
Cassidy Schaar and Helgeson each went 2-for-4, as Helgeson tallied one run scored and one RBI.
Madison Rutter and Thielen were the final two Wolves with multiple hits in the win, each going 2-for-3 at the plate. Rutter grabbed a double, as well as Sjerven. Fisher and Uittenbogaard tallied the final two hits for the Wolves, as Northern notched 14 total in the game.
The Wolves will face off against Minnesota Crookston tomorrow at 1 and 3 p.m. from the Presentation College Dome.
