Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State softball team wrapped up the Presentation Dome Invite with a 1-1 day versus Dordt College and Valley City State. The Wolves defeated the Defenders 9-0 in five innings, and fell to the nationally ranked Vikings 7-0. NSU concludes the weekend with a 3-1 record overall, after sweeping yesterday morning.
Dordt College
The Wolves scored early and often in the opening match-up of the day with four runs in the first, three in the second, and another two in the third. The 4-run first inning came off the bat of
Jen Martin on a bomb to right center field.
Julia Sullwold,
Jamie Fisher, and
Kennady Thompson all scored on the long ball, after reaching base via an error and back-to-back singles.
Fisher, Thompson, and Schaar led the team offensively in the game with two hits apiece. Fisher added two runs scored and one RBI, while Thompson tallied a run scored. Martin went 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored, five RBI, and one walk.
Kaitlyn King tallied the team's only extra base hit, a double to center in the bottom of the second. She tallied one RBI and one run scored for the Wolves as well.
Courtney Sjerven and
Rachel Reinke notched the final two team hits for the Wolves in the win.
Andrea Cherney threw a 1-hit, 5.0 inning shutout for the first win of her Northern State career. The freshman struck out six in the process. Northern was strong defensively behind the ace, notching nine putouts without an error given up.
Valley City State
A 6-run first inning by the Vikings, left the Wolves in an up-hill battle in game two. Northern gave up just one run in the following six innings, however the women were unable to get things going offensively. Fisher, King, and
Madison Rutter each notched singles, while Reinke tallied a double for the Wolves.
Fisher started the contest and suffered her first loss of the season, giving up six runs on two hits with two walks.
Makenzie Merritt and Cherney entered in relief, throwing the final 5.2 innings of work. Merritt gave up just one unearned run on three hits, with two strikeouts, while Cherney was the only Wolf to hold the Vikings scoreless notching two strikeouts and one hit given up.
The Wolves return to the diamond March 1-7 with 12 games from the Sunshine State over spring break. NSU will face off against Wheeling Jesuit, Saint Rose, Southern Indiana, Georgian Court, Walsh, Trevecca, Grand Valley State, Felician, University of the Sciences, Alderson Broaddus, Seton Hill, and Clarion.
