Aberdeen, S.D.  – After being swept yesterday evening, the Northern State University softball team returned to the Presentation College Dome and tallied a Sunday split versus Upper Iowa. The Wolves combined for five runs and 16 hits in the two games, while also recording their second league victory of 2019.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final: NSU 1, UIU 4
Game 2 Final: NSU 4, UIU 3
Records: NSU 10-18 (2-4 NSIC), UIU 10-11 (2-4 NSIC)
 
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Upper Iowa pushed one run across in the top of the first, and grabbed another two runs in the second and one in the third to take a 4-0 lead
• Northern State began to chip away in the bottom of the third, as Kennady Thompson flew out to center, scoring Madison Rutter who led off the inning with a single down the left field line
• The Wolves however were unable to keep the rally going, and were held scoreless through the final four innings
• NSU notched one run on five hits, with two errors defensively
• Jamie Fisher started, throwing the first two innings of work, giving up two earned runs on three hits with a walk. The senior suffered her tenth loss of the season
• Makenzie Merritt entered in relief and held the Wolves in the contest, giving up just one earned run in 5.0 innings of work

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Cassidy Schaar: 1-for-2
• Madison Rutter: 1-for-3, 1 run
• Kennady Thompson: 1-for-3, RBI

 
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wolves jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first with one run on a single up the middle by Kennady Thompson scoring Jamie Fisher who led off the game with a single to right
• Upper Iowa answered back in the top of the third, knotting the game up at one
• After being held scoreless through the second, third, and fourth innings, the Wolves broke things open in the fifth
• Jamie Fisher and Courtney Sjerven reached base via a single up the middle and fielder's choice bunt leaving runners on for Kennady Thompson
• Thompson connected for her sixth homerun of the season, a line shot to left center field, which gave Northern the 4-1 lead
• Upper Iowa did not sit down easily, notching a 2-run rally in the top of the seventh
• Andrea Cherney started for NSU throwing 4.0 innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Cherney re-entered in the top of the seventh, and held the Peacocks with runners in scoring position, earning her second save of the year
• Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing 2.2 innings in her fourth win of the season. She gave up just one earned run on two hits with a strikeout
• Northern tallied four runs on 11 hits, with one error defensively

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Jamie Fisher: 3-for-3, 1 run
• Kennady Thompson: 3-for-3, 1 run, 4 RBI, homerun
• Sara Bendt: 2-for-3

 
UP NEXT
Northern travels to the University of Mary on Wednesday for an NSIC doubleheader versus the Marauders. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. from the Sanford Athletic Complex in Bismarck.