St. Joseph, Mo. – The Northern State University softball team snapped their loss streak on Tuesday afternoon, splitting with Missouri Western on the road. The Wolves tallied a 7-run victory in game one and recorded 26 total hits on the day.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 9, MWSU 2
Final Score Game 2: NSU 2, MWSU 7
Records: NSU 6-8, MWSU 4-7
 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 1

• Northern scored nine runs on 16 hits in the game one victory, playing perfect defense
• The Wolves jumped out to an early lead on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the first inning, however the Griffons quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame
• NSU broke things open in the fourth, scoring five runs on five hits
• Jessi Hernandez, Elly Smith, Ashley Fauske, Shelby Novotny, and Hannah Smith scored in the fourth, off singles by H. Smith, Novotny, and Liv Richardson and a sacrifice fly by Avarie Eagle
• The Wolves extended their lead in the following inning, notching three runs on four hits
• Hernandez scored on a single by H. Smith, while Smith and Fauske came around to score on a double by Kamdyn Barrientos
• Six Wolves recorded multiple hits in the win, while four tallied two runs each
• Meghan Anderson started for the Wolves, throwing a complete game win with 13 strikeouts and just one hit

 
NORTHERN STATE GAME 1 STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Ashley Fauske: 3-for-4, 2 runs
• Avarie Eagle: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, triple
• Elly Smith: 2-for-4, 1 run
• Jessi Hernandez: 2-for-4, 2 runs
• Liv Richardson: 2-for-5, 2 RBI
• Hannah Smith: 2-for-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI
• Meghan Anderson: 7.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 hit, 13 strikeouts

 
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME 2

• Northern notched two early runs in the top of the first and second innings; Barrientos scored on an error by the short stop in the first, and Alexandria Arndt scored on a double by H. Smith in the second
• Missouri Western took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the first and added four more in the sixth
• In total, the Wolves notched their two runs on ten hits with one error defensively
• Northern had their opportunities leaving nine runners on base in the loss
• Abigail Rux made the first start of her career, throwing 5.2 innings with six earned runs, ten hits, and five strikeouts in the loss
• Three Wolves tallied two hits in the contest, including two extra base knocks

 
NORTHERN STATE GAME 2 STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Hannah Smith: 2-for-4, 1 RBI, double
• Shelby Novotny: 2-for-4, double
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-3

 
UP NEXT
Northern returns to action over the spring break period taking a 6-game road trip to Chadron State, CSU Pueblo, and Colorado Mesa. The Wolves will face Chadron State on March 14 as 12 and 2 p.m., CSU Pueblo on March 15 at 5 and 7 p.m., and Colorado Mesa at 5 and 7 p.m. on March 16.