Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team split with the University of Sioux Falls on Friday evening from the PC Dome, notching a 3-2 game one victory and falling 13-4 in game two. The Wolves move to 15-13 overall and 5-3 in the NSIC following the doubleheader.
 
The Cougars scored first in game one, notching two runs in the their first plate appearances of the day. Northern quickly cut the lead in the half in the bottom of the innings, as Kennady Thompson scored Courtney Sjerven on a sacrifice fly to center field. Sjerven the tied things for NSU in the bottom of the fifth, on a single to left field.
 
The two teams headed to the bottom of the seventh, tied at 2-all and the bottom of the NSU order up. Katie Uittenbogaard led off the inning, reaching base when she was hit by a pitch. Anne Jonas entered the pinch run and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlyn King. Jonas came around to score on a 1-out game winning single to right by Sjerven who led the team offensively in the win.
 
Sjerven led the team going 3-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI, and a double. Helgeson and Uittenbogaard tallied the final two hits for the Wolves, with King, Cassidy Schaar, and Thompson each notched sacrifice hits.
 
Makenzie Merritt started on the hill, throwing five complete innings. The freshman gave up just two earned runs on three hits. Jamie Fisher entered in relief throwing the final two innings and earning her 11^th win of the season. Fisher gave up just one hit and struck out two of the seven batters she faced.
 
Sioux Falls again scored first in game two win a run in the top of the first, however Northern tied things up in the bottom of the frame. Sjerven led off the game with a single through the left side, and came around to score on an error by the second baseman.
 
Northern took the lead in the bottom of the second, kick started by a Katie Dawson walk. Uittenbogaard attempted to sacrifice bunt Jonas, who pinch ran for Dawson, to second and legged out a single on the play. Madison Rutter executed the sacrifice on the following play leaving runners on second and third with one out. Sjerven added to her solid offense day, knocking in both Jonas and Rachel Reinke, who pinch ran for Uittenbogaard, on a single up the middle.
 
The Cougars tied the game in the top of the fifth and broke things open with ten runs in the top of the sixth. Northern put one run across in the bottom of the frame, however it was not enough to force the seven inning, as the Wolves fell by virtue of run rule. The Wolves struggled defensively in the sixth with a total of two errors and six unearned runs.
 
Sjerven again was the only Wolf to record multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Thompson, Dawson, and Uittenbogaard tallied the final three team hits for the Wolves. Fisher threw 5.2 innings, suffering her eighth loss of the season. She gave up six runs, five earned, on ten hits with three strikeouts. Merritt entered to throw the final out of the sixth, giving up seven unearned runs on four hits.
 
Northern returns to action tomorrow afternoon at 2 and 4 p.m. versus Southwest Minnesota State.