Fayette, Iowa – The Northern State University softball team split with Upper Iowa on Saturday afternoon taking game one 8-2 and falling in game two 10-2 in five innings. The Wolves move to 28-19 overall and 18-8 in the NSIC heading into their final regular season doubleheader tomorrow.
The Wolves notched four runs in the first two innings to take an early lead.
Courtney Sjerven led off the first with a walk and came around to score on a single to left by
Jamie Fisher and error by the outfielder.
Kennady Thompson also scored in the first on a single by
Jenna Helgeson. Thompson and Fisher notched the two RBI's in the second scoring
Mackenzie Thielen and Sjerven. The Wolves added four more runs in the sixth, taking the 8-0 lead. UIU answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame, however was unable to make up the difference.
Fisher and Thompson led the team in the win notching three hits each. Thompson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, one RBI, and a double, while Fisher went 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Sjerven was the final Wolf with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a double, and a walk.
Kaitlyn King,
Katie Dawson, Helgeson,
Madison Rutter, and
Katie Uittenbogaard each added a single for the Wolves.
Fisher broke the single season school record with her 21
st win of the season throwing seven complete innings. The junior gave up just two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
The Peacocks jumped out to an early lead in game two with three runs in the bottom of the first. Northern answered with one run in the top of the third off the bat of Fisher, scoring
Shayla Steinley on a single to left. Upper Iowa tacked on another seven runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, handing the Wolves the mercy rule loss.
Thompson led the team going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Rutter notched the lone extra base hit, a double, while Fisher grabbed a single.
Makenzie Merritt started for the Wolves, suffering her seventh loss of the season. The freshman threw 2.2 innings giving up four earned runs on six hits. Fisher entered in relief, throwing the final two innings of action, giving up three earned runs on eight hits.
The Wolves conclude the regular season tomorrow at Winona State with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. versus the No. 7 Warriors.