Aberdeen, S.D.  – The Northern State University softball team dropped both NSIC conference games versus No. 22 Winona State University on Saturday evening. The first game ended in the fifth via mercy rule, while the night cap went into extra innings.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final: NSU 0, WSU 9 (5 inn)
Game 2 Final: NSU 5, WSU 6 (8 inn)
Records: NSU 9-17 (1-3 NSIC), WSU 19-5 (4-0 NSIC)
 
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Winona State scored first and broke the game open in the top of the second with six runs on six hits
• The Warriors added three more runs in the top of the fifth, sealing the run rule victory
• Just three Northern State runners reached base in the game, as the team tallied two hits and was held scoreless
• Andrea Cherney suffered the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings of work
• Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing the final 3.1 innings of work, and giving up three earned runs on four hits

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Jamie Fisher: 1-for-2
• Kennady Thompson: 1-for-2

 
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Northern State offense came out swinging in game two, as Jamie Fisher led off the contest with a single to centerfield
• Two at-bats later, Kennady Thompson blasted her fifth homerun of the season, a line shot to right center field which gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead
• Winona State answered back in the second with one run of their own, however the Wolves returned the favor in the bottom of the frame
• Fisher doubled to right center, scoring Courtney Sjerven who led off the inning with a single to right
• The Warriors continued to battle, taking a 4-3 lead with one run in the third and two in the fourth
• Northern however who not lay down that easily, as Fisher tied the game at 4-all in the bottom of the fourth scoring Kaitlyn King who led off the inning with a single to right center
• The Wolves then re-gained the lead in the following inning on a Courtney Sjerven single to left, scoring Julia Sullwold (pinch running for Jen Martin who singled up the middle)
• NSU entered the seventh with a 1-run lead, however Winona State tied the game at five and held the Wolves scoreless in the bottom of the inning
• Northern entered their second extra inning contest of the NSIC season, and was unable to secure the victory as WSU notched one run in the top of the eighth and sat the Wolves down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning
• NSU tallied five runs on 12 hits with three errors defensively
• Fisher recorded her ninth loss of the season, after starting the game and returning in the top of the eighth. The senior gave up two earned runs on five hits with six walks and two strikeouts
• Makenzie Merritt threw 2.2 innings of relief giving up one earned run with two walks and three strikeouts

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Courtney Sjerven: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, sacrifice hit
• Kaitlyn King: 2-for-4, 1 run
• Kennady Thompson: 1-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, homerun

 
UP NEXT
The Wolves return to the Presentation College Dome tomorrow, Sunday for a double header beginning at 2 p.m. versus Upper Iowa University.