Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team split with Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday afternoon, winning game one in extra innings and falling in game two. The Wolves move to 22-17 overall and 11-7 in the NSIC.
The Golden Bears scored in the first at-bats of the outing, notching one run in the top of the first. The Wolves however answered back in the bottom of the frame, grabbing the lead.
Courtney Sjerven led off the inning with a double to right center, followed by a bunt single by
Kaitlyn King.
Jamie Fisher stepped to the plate and connected for a single to third base, scoring Sjerven on the play. King came around to score on the following at-bat, as the Wolves double stole with runners on the corners.
CSP tied things up in the top of the third and took the 3-2 lead in the fifth. NSU tied things up in the bottom of the frame off the bat of Fisher. The junior singled to left scoring King who recorded a 2-out single through the right side.
The two teams remained scoreless through the final two innings and moved into extras. Both teams had their opportunities, however the Wolves broke through in the bottom of the ninth. Sjerven drove in the game winning run on a short fly ball to center, scoring
Anne Jonas who was pinch running for
Katie Uittenbogaard. Uittenbogaard reach base via a dropped fly ball by the centerfielder.
King led the team in the win going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Sjerven went 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI. Fisher tallied the final two hits in three plate appearances, and led the team with two RBI. The junior grabbed the win for the Wolves, improving to 17-10 on the year. She threw nine complete innings giving up three earned runs on nine hits with one strikeout.
Concordia-St. Paul struck first again in game two, notching one run in the top of the first.
Jenna Helgeson proved her worth on defense cutting down two Golden Bear scoring attempts in second and third. CSP tacked on another two runs in the top of the seventh, taking the 3-0 lead.
King and Helgeson tallied the two team hits in the game for the Wolves.
Makenzie Merritt started in the circle suffering her sixth loss of the season. The freshman gave up three earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout.
The Wolves return to action tomorrow at 12 p.m. versus the Mavericks of Minnesota State from the Moccasin Creek Complex.
