Clermont, Fla. – The Northern State University softball team swept Holy Family and Nyack College in spring break action on Wednesday with scores of 22-1 and 1-0. The Wolves improve to 8-6 overall and 6-4 from Florida.
 
The Wolves busted things open in the top of the first, belting out seven runs and bouncing the Holy Family starter. Northern added another nine runs in the second, one in the third, four in the fourth, and one in the fifth to seal the run rule victory. Offensively, NSU batted through the line-up in both the first and second innings, brining 23 batters to the plate.
 
Makenzie Merritt nearly grabbed a shutout on the mound throwing five complete innings and giving up just one unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. HFU notched just three hits, while Merritt struck out three in her third win of the season.
 
Five Wolves tallied multiple hits in the win, while another six grabbed a hit each. Northern notched 22 runs off 16 hits with 11 walks and 19 RBI. NSU also left nine runners on base through five innings offensively.
 
Courtney Sjerven led the team going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored and four RBI. Also notching two hits in the win were Shayla Steinley, Kennady Thompson, Makenzie Merritt, and Carly Brousek. Emma Terveer, Jenna Helgeson, Katie Dawson, Cassidy Schaar, Mackenzie Thielen, and Natalie Gabbert tallied the final team hits for the Wolves.
 
Sjerven, Helgeson, Dawson, Merritt, and Schaar each belted out a double in the victory, while Gabbert tallied the first homerun of her career, a 3-run bomb to dead centerfield in the top of the fourth. The freshman was second on the team with three RBI, alongside senior Mackenzie Thielen. Helgeson and Dawson followed with two RBI apiece, while Steinley, Thompson, Merritt, Brousek, and Anne Jonas each notched one.
 
The two teams were scoreless through the first three innings of game two, however the Wolves broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Kaitlyn King reached base via a fielder's choice and game around to score on a Madison Rutter single to left. The RBI was the decisive run of the game for the Wolves as they secured the day five sweep. Northern combined for nine hits in the win over Nyack, notching their second shutout from Florida.
 
Rutter led the team going 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Courtney Sjerven and Katie Uittenbogaard each went 2-for-3. Shayla Steinley, Jenna Helgeson, and Kaitlyn King grabbed the final three team hits for the Wolves, while King notched on only stolen base in the game.
 
Jamie Fisher earned her fifth win of the season, and second shutout in as many days throwing seven complete innings. The junior gave up just three hits and struck out two in the win, as she is now 5-2 on the year overall.
 
The Wolves return to the diamond tomorrow for the final games from the sunshine state. NSU will take on Stonehill College at 1 p.m. and Ashland University at 6 p.m. from Legends Way Ballpark.