Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team swept U-Mary on Wednesday evening from the PC Dome with game scores of 2-1 and 10-3. With the wins, Northern improves to 19-13 overall and 9-3 in the NSIC.
 
The Wolves scored first in the bottom of the third inning of game one, as Cassidy Schaar led off on a walk. The junior came around to score on a 2-out single up the middle by Courtney Sjerven, giving the Wolves the 1-0 lead. Mary quickly answered back with a run in the top of the fourth, however the Wolves notched the decisive run in the bottom of the fifth. Kaitlyn King led off the inning with a single up the middle, and advanced to second on a Sjerven sacrifice bunt. The sophomore scored two at-bats later, as Kennady Thompson single to right centerfield.
 
Six different Wolves notched a single in the win, including Sjerven, Thompson, Katie Dawson, Jamie Fisher, Madison Rutter, and King. Fisher notched the start on the mound, pitching her 14^th win of the season. The junior threw all seven innings, giving up just one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts.
 
NSU was off to a quick start in game two, notching five runs off four hits in the bottom of the second. The Marauders held the NSU offense at bay through the middle innings, however Northern tacked on five more runs off five hits this time in the bottom of the sixth. U-Mary recorded three runs in the top of the fourth, however it was not enough to break into the Northern State lead.
 
In total the Wolves finished with ten runs on 13 hits with one defensive error. Northern was patient offensively, forcing six walks. Fisher earned her second win of the night and 15^th of the season throwing another complete game. She gave up three runs, just one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts. She also led the team offensively going 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
 
Sjerven, Thompson, Dawson, and Jenna Helgeson each notched two hits apiece, as Sjerven and Thompson both recorded doubles. Thompson led the team with three RBI, followed by King with two. King went 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored as well. Rutter grabbed the final hit of the evening for NSU, while Sjerven and Helgeson each added a team leading two runs scored.
 
Northern returns to action this weekend on the road at Wayne State and Augustana University. The Wolves will face the Wildcats at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday and the Vikings at 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday.