Aberdeen, S.D. – Notching two shutout victories in their opener from Moccasin Creek, the Northern State University softball team improved to 16-8 on the year and extended their win streak to four games. The Wolves defeated the Beavers in 12 innings, notching 15 total runs and a mercy rule victory in game two.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final Score: NSU 7, BSU 0
Game 2 Final Score: NSU 8, BSU 0 (5 Inn.)
Records: NSU 16-8 (7-3 NSIC), BSU 7-17 (3-7 NSIC)
 
Game 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Northern opened their day notching one run in the bottom of the second by Elly Smith on a first and third situation
• The Wolves tacked on two runs in the following frame, as Elyse Cuttic singled through the left side with the bases loaded, scoring both Ashley Fauske and Rachel Reinke
• Shelby Novotny put NSU up by four in the fourth, belting a long ball to left
• In the fifth, Elly Smith scored Makenzie Merritt on a double to center and Smith came around to score in a single to right by Emily Charchuk
• The Wolves tallied their final run of the game in the sixth on a throwing error by the Bemidji State pitcher on Ashley Fauske's bunt single
• Northern recorded seven runs on 11 hits, without giving up an error defensively
• Meghan Anderson started in the circle, throwing a 7-inning complete game shutout for her eighth win of the season
   

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Shelby Novotny: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, homerun
• Rachel Reinke: 2-for-4, 2 runs, stolen base
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-4, 1 run
• Meghan Anderson: 7.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, 13 strikeouts, win

 
Game 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Wolves tallied their first run of the game on their second successful first and third situation of the day; scoring on the play was Rachel Reinke
• Bemidji State held Northern scoreless in the second and third, however the Wolves broke things open in the fourth
• NSU recorded five runs on seven hits in the fourth; scoring in the inning were Chanel Siebenthal, Shelby Novotny, Reinke, Ashley Fauske, and Makenzie Merritt
• Novotny opened the fifth with a single up the middle and Reinke stepped to the plate with 2-outs, blasting a deep homerun to left field
• The long ball secured the mercy rule victory for NSU
• Northern tallied eight runs on 14 hits, suffering one error defensively
• Elyse Cuttic tossed the Wolves second shutout of the day, giving up just two hits and striking out ten in 5-innings of work

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Rachel Reinke: 3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, homerun, stolen base
• Natalie Gabbert: 2-for-3
• Shelby Novotny: 2-for-3, 2 runs, stolen base
• Elyse Cuttic: 5.0 innings pitched, 2 hits, 10 strikeouts, win, 3-for-3, RBI, double

 
UP NEXT
Northern State returns to action tomorrow at 12 p.m. versus Minnesota Crookston. Live links will be posted on the schedule page at nsuwolves.com.