Aberdeen, S.D. – It was an offensively heavy night for the Wolves and the Beavers with a combined 49 hits in the two game series. Northern State came out on top notching their second league sweep this season with a combined 16 runs and 31 hits in the two wins. The sweep moves the Wolves up one spot, into a 3-way tie for tenth in the NSIC Standings. With ten games remaining in the league regular season, the Wolves will look to finish in the top-10 and qualify for the NSIC Tournament.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final: NSU 7, MINOT 6
Game 2 Final: NSU 9, MINOT 5
Records: NSU 17-25 (9-11 NSIC), MINOT 21-16 (10-10 NSIC)
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Minot State scored first in the top of the second with one run, before the Wolves took the lead in the bottom of the frame
- Northern State loaded the bases and plated their first run on a 5-pitch walk to Rachel Reinke
- Julia Sullwold and Reinke came around to score two at-bats later as Kennady Thompson ripped a single through the left side
- Northern's 3-1 lead held through the fourth, however the Beavers began to chip away with one run in the top of the fifth
- The Wolves responded in the bottom of the frame as Cassidy Schaar notched a 2-out single up the middle, and came around to score on Rachel Reinke's line drive homerun down the left field line
- Lauryn Bos and Jen Martin led off the sixth for the Wolves with a single through the left side and a double to left center field; the pair came around to score on a ground ball to second by Kaitlyn King and sacrifice fly to centerfield by Sara Bendt
- The Beavers stormed back in the top of the seventh with four runs, however Andrea Cherney was able to fend of the Minot attack and seal the 1-run victory for the Wolves
- Northern tallied seven runs on 15 hits with three errors defensively
- Jamie Fisher threw her fifth win of the season in 6.2 innings of work, while Cherney earned her third save of the year
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Minot State opened the scoring in the second with one run in the top of the frame
- Cassidy Schaar knotted the game up at 1-all in the bottom half of the inning with a single left center field, scoring Emma Terveer; Terveer pinch ran for Jamie Fisher who reached base via a single to center
- Rachel Reinke belted her second homerun of the evening in the bottom of the third, giving the Wolves the 2-1 lead
- Northern broke things open in the bottom of the fourth scoring six runs on eight hits; crossing the plate for NSU was Sara Bendt, Madison Rutter, Rachel Reinke, Shayla Steinley, Courtney Sjerven, and Julia Sullwold as the Wolves batted through the line-up
- Minot State battled back in the following inning with two runs on four hits, cutting the Northern State lead to just four
- The Beavers added one more run in the sixth, leaving the Wolves up 9-5
- Northern held on for the victory, notching 16 hits with two errors on defense
- Makenzie Merritt improved her season record to 7-3 throwing 4.1 innings of work, while Jamie Fisher earned her first save of the year
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Rachel Reinke: 2-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI, homerun
- Courtney Sjerven: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, walk
- Jamie Fisher: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, walk, 1.1 IP, 1 strikeout
- Sara Bendt: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, sacrifice bunt
- Cassidy Schaar: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, sacrifice fly
- Shayla Steinley: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Kaitlyn King: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
UP NEXT
Northern State welcomes Augustana and Wayne State to town this Friday and Saturday. Game times are set for 12 and 2 p.m. each day with the location still to be determined depending on field conditions in Aberdeen.
