Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team dropped their weekend finale to Augustana earlier today. The Wolves battled with the Vikings in game one and fell in five innings in game two.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 7, AU 8
Final Score Game 2: NSU 0, AU 11
Records: NSU 12-24 (6-10 NSIC), AU 26-11 (13-3 NSIC)
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1
- The 7-inning contest saw three tie scores a multiple lead changes between the Wolves and Vikings
- Northern scored their seven runs on ten hits, including four homeruns, without an error defensively
- The Wolves took the lead in the top of the first with two runs on a single to the shortstop by Kyra Knudtson, scoring Liv Richardson, and double to right center by Elly Smith, scoring Avarie Eagle
- The Vikings quickly answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, grabbing the first lead of the contest
- Augustana extended that lead in the third with one run, however the Wolves put together an explosive fourth inning to regain the lead
- Emma Owens and Kamdyn Barrientos knotted the game at four with back-to-back 1-out homeruns to left center
- Ashley Fauske added a single up the middle and came around to score on a single to left by Richardson; earning the Wolves their second lead of the contest
- Kyra Knudtson jumped on the homerun train in the fifth, smashing a long ball to right and extending the Wolves lead by two
- AU responded with two runs in the fifth, tying the contest yet again, and added another two in the sixth
- The Wolves threatened in the seventh with one run off the bat of Owens, who tallied her second career homerun
- Lexi Chase suffered the loss, giving up eight earned runs on 15 hits with two strikeouts in five innings of work
- Abby Rux closed out the sixth for the Wolves defense, holding Augustana to just one hit, while recording a strikeout
- Richardson, Knudtson, and Owens each tallied a pair of hits in the game, with Owens leading the offense with two homeruns
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2
- Northern tallied just one hit in the game against AU ace Lexi Lander
- Augustana scored early and often, notching two runs in the first, four in the second, and fifth in the fourth
- Rux suffered the loss for the Wolves, giving up ten hits and nine runs in 3.1 innings of work
- Abby Meads entered in relief, throwing the final 0.2 innings with two earned runs, two hits, and one walk
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
UP NEXT
Northern remains on the road tomorrow with an away match-up against St. Cloud State. The game previously scheduled for Wednesday, April 19 was moved to tomorrow on the campus of St. Ben's in St. Joseph, Minnesota. First pitch is set for 9:30 a.m. with game preview information outlined below.
ST. CLOUD STATE STORYLINES
- The Huskies enter the doubleheader with a 23-14 record overall and 8-4 mark in the Northern Sun
- SCSU is hitting .313 this season with 305 hits, 58 doubles, ten triples, 19 homeruns, 179 RBI, and 216 runs scored
- Holly Weinberger leads five starters hitting above .300 this season with a .376 average, notching a team best 47 hits
- Jasmin Estrada is slugging a team leading .672 with 12 doubles and eight homeruns, as well as a team high 35 RBI
- The St. Cloud pitching staff posts a 2.90 ERA through 234.0 innings pitched with 217 strikeouts and a .248 opponent batting average
- Trinity Junker leads the staff with a 12-5 record, 116 strikeouts, and .205 opponent average
- St. Cloud State is led by head coach Mitch Roberts in his second season at the helm
LAST MEETING
- The Wolves and Huskies split a season ago with a 4-0 loss and 1-0 win in Aberdeen
- Northern is 8-35 all-time versus St. Cloud State
