Aberdeen, S.D.  – The Northern State University softball team recorded their first NSIC sweep on Sunday evening defeated Southwest Minnesota State from the Presentation College Dome.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final: NSU 5, SMSU 4
Game 2 Final: NSU 4, SMSU 0
Records: NSU 15-23 (7-9 NSIC), SMSU 11-17 (6-10 NSIC)
 
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wolves quickly put up two runs in their first at-bats of the game with back-to-back homeruns to left center field by Courtney Sjerven and Kennady Thompson
• Northern added their third run of the game in the top of the second, on an errant throw by the Mustang third basemen scoring Madison Rutter
• NSU took the 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth, as Rutter singled in Sara Bendt and Kaitlyn King who reached via error and double to right center respectively
• The Mustangs stormed back in the bottom of the frame with four runs of their own, however they were unable to tie things or gain the lead
• Northern tallied their five runs on eight hits with one error defensively
• Jamie Fisher started for the Wolves throwing 3.2 innings, giving up four unearned runs on three hits with three strikeouts
• Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing the final 3.1 innings of work and earning her sixth win of the year; Merritt held the Mustangs hitless and tallied one strikeout

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Kaitlyn King: 2-for-4, 1 run, double
• Courtney Sjerven: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, homerun
• Kennady Thompson: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, homerun
• Makenzie Merritt: 3.1 IP, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Thompson's long ball was the 14^th of her career, tying the Northern State career record held by Rachel Albright, Macey Engel, and Eryn Yancy with 14

 
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jen Martin and Jamie Fisher led off the second for the Wolves with a walk and single up the middle, and came around to score on Sara Bendt's double down the right field line
• Northern took the 2-0 lead, and added a third run in the top of the fifth on Rachel Reinke's bomb to left field
• Cassidy Schaar singled in Sara Bendt in the top of the sixth, giving the Wolves the 4-0 lead
• Andrea Cherney and Makenzie Merritt shut the Mustangs out in the game, giving up a combined four hits
• Cherney recorded her fifth win of the 2019 season with five strikeouts, while Merritt tallied her second save notching two strikeouts
• The Wolves scored four runs on ten hits with one error defensively

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Sara Bendt: 2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI, 2 doubles
• Madison Rutter: 2-for-3
• Rachel Reinke: 1-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Andrea Cherney: 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 5 strikeouts, win
• Makenzie Merritt: 1.1 IP, 2 strikeouts, save

 
UP NEXT
The Wolves are back in action at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. tomorrow from the Presentation College Dome versus the Cougars of Southwest Minnesota State.