Bryant_DU
Kory Burdick

Late Offensive Spark Takes Game One and Propels Game Two on Opening Day

2/10/2023 9:35:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team kicked off their 2023 campaign with a pair of wins on opening day over GPAC opponents. The Wolves defeated Doane University in extra innings and came from behind in their win over the University of Jamestown.  
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 6, DU 3 (8 inn)
Final Score Game 1: NSU 8, UJ 5
Records: NSU 2-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. DOANE
  • The Tigers struck first in the top of the third, notching one run on a pair of singles
  • Northern State grabbed the lead in the fourth with two runs of a solo homerun by freshman Kyra Knudtson and single to left by Ashley Fauske (scoring Alexandria Arndt)
  • Doane tied the game in the sixth and Northern to put a run across in regulation, leading two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh
  • Due to tournament formatting, the eighth started via the international tie breaker rule with a runner placed on second base
  • DU scored one in the frame and left the Wolves in a do-or-die situation
  • Liv Richardson led off the eighth with a bunt single, that scored Kamdyn Barrientos and tied the game on an errant throw by the third basemen
  • Knudtson walked and the inning sat with two runners on and two outs for freshman Tevan Bryant
  • Bryant connected and belted her first career homerun and walk-off, a long ball to left center field
  • In total, Northern tallied six runs on six hits, without giving up an error defensively
  • Meghan Anderson earned her first win of the season, tossing eight complete innings with 11 strikeouts
 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS  
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. JAMESTOWN
  • The Wolves and Jimmies battled throughout the contest, trading leads with runs scored in five of the seven innings
  • Northern tallied their eight runs on 15 hits, scoring two runs in the first, three in the third, two in the fourth, and one in the seventh
  • Bryant continued her solid day at the plate, tying the game in the top of the second on a 2-run double to left center (scoring Elly Smith and Avarie Eagle)
  • Jamestown quickly responded in the bottom of the frame, regaining the lead with three runs
  • NSU tied the contest in the third on a double to right center by Knudtson (scoring Barrientos), double to right center by Eagle (scoring Knudtson), and single to right center by Smith (scoring Eagle)
  • The Wolves held the Jimmies scoreless in the bottom of the third and tallied their final lead of the contest in the top of the fourth
  • Northern added two runs, led off by Barrientos with a single, plating Ashley Fauske
  • Claire Zyblut scored the following at-bat on a ground out to the right side by Richardson, and Northern State led 7-5
  • The two teams played a scoreless fifth and sixth before Northern tacked on one run in the seventh on a double by Chase (scoring Fauske)
  • NSU gave up two early errors on defense, but settled in as the game went on
  • Chase earned her first Northern State win in the circle, throwing five innings without giving up an earned run
 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS  
UP NEXT
The Wolves return to action tomorrow from the Presentation College Dome. First pitch times are set for 10 a.m. against Morningside and 3 p.m. versus Valley City State. 

 
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