Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University offense came alive on opening day, pumping out 30 hits and 22 runs scored in their two victories versus Jamestown and Dakota Wesleyan. The Wolves defeated the Jimmies 8-6, and the Tigers 14-3 in five innings of work. The opening day sweep is the first for the Wolves since the 2012 season.
 
University of Jamestown
The Wolves struck first versus the Jimmies, notching one run off a single by Kennady Thompson in the top of the first. Julia Sullwold scored for NSU after reaching base via a single through the left side. Jamestown quickly answered back grabbing the lead in the bottom of the frame, which the Wolves then regained in the top of the second.  
 
Northern tallied two runs on two hits in the second, giving them the 3-2 lead over UJ. Jamestown tied things up in the bottom of the second, and took their second lead of the game (4-3) in the bottom of the third.
 
NSU broke things open in the top of the fifth, kicked off by Kaitlyn King with a 1-out single to centerfield. Northern rattled off three straight singles from Rachel Reinke, Natalie Gabbert, and Cassidy Schaar, scoring three runs and grabbing a 6-4 lead. The Wolves added another two runs to close out the inning, which ultimately made the difference in the game, as the Jimmies tallied another two scores in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Julia Sullwold and Jamie Fisher led the team at the plate going 2-for-3 in the win. Sullwold tallied a run scored, an RBI, and a walk, while Fisher notched a double and a walk. Courtney Sjerven grabbed the Wolves second double of the contest, going 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Thompson, Jen Martin, Kaitlyn King, Reinke, Rutter, Gabbert, Shayla Steinley, and Schaar each tallied a single in the win, with Thompson, Gabbert, Steinley, and Schaar each recording an RBI. The Wolves tallied five stolen bases from Sjerven, Sullwold, Steinley, and Schaar (2).
 
Fisher made her first start of the season on the mound, throwing 5.2 innings. The senior gave up four earned runs, but secured the win with one strikeouts. Andrea Cherney entered in the bottom of the sixth and closed out the final 1.1 innings of work. The freshman faced seven batters and held the Jimmies scoreless in her first career save. She added three strikeouts as well.
 
Dakota Wesleyan
The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in game two with one run in the top of the first and another two in the second. Northern exploded in the bottom half of the inning hitting through the line-up with nine runs scored on ten hits. Rachel Reinke and Madison Rutter hit back-to-back homeruns, and the Wolves combined for six singles and two doubles in the inning.
 
Northern tacked on another five runs in the bottom of the fourth, led off by Reinke's second homerun of the contest. Rutter stepped to the plate and déjà vu nearly kicked in for the junior; however, the hit was called back and ruled a ground rule double as it hopped over the fence instead of clearing it on the fly. Courtney Sjerven also doubled in the frame, and Kennady Thompson busted out the team's fourth homerun of the game, a 2-run bomb to left centerfield.
 
NSU busted out 17 hits in the contest, led by Reinke, Rutter, and Thompson with three apiece. Thompson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a homerun, while Rutter went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI, a homerun, and a double. Reinke almost hit for the cycle going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored, four RBI, two homeruns, and one double.
 
Fisher and Sullwold each grabbed two hits apiece, going 2-for-2 and 2-for-3 at the plate respectively. Fisher tallied her second double of the day, as one of five Wolves to record one in the contest. She was joined by Sjerven and Schaar with doubles of their own. Martin and Kaitlyn King tallied the final two team hits for the Wolves, and added a combined two runs scored and one RBI.
 
Cherney made her first collegiate start, throwing 1.1 innings and giving up three earned runs on three hits with two walks. Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing the final 3.2 innings of work. The sophomore held the Tigers scoreless, giving up just two hits and striking out four in her first win of the 2019 season.
 
The Wolves finished opening day with a .476 average, notching seven doubles, four homeruns, 20 RBI, and five stole bases. They notched a .778 slugging percentage and .514 on base percentage, with 13 hits versus the Jimmies and 17 against the Tigers.
 
Northern returns to the Presentation College dome tomorrow evening at 5 and 7 p.m. versus Dordt College and Valley City State University.