Fayette, Iowa – The Northern State University softball team dropped a pair of NSIC contests on Saturday to Upper Iowa University. The Wolves led in game two, however a seventh inning comeback by the Peacocks tied the contest where NSU fell in the eighth.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, UIU 6
Final Score Game 2: NSU 4, UIU 5 (8 inn)
Records: NSU 14-32 (8-18 NSIC), UIU 17-26 (9-16 NSIC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Northern tallied three runs on nine hits in game one, playing errorless defense
• The Peacocks recorded one run apiece in the first, third, and fourth innings, taking a 3-0 lead
• NSU answered back in the top of the fifth, plating two runs off a homerun to right by Avarie Eagle (scoring Ashley Fauske)
• Upper Iowa tacked on another three runs in the sixth, taking a 6-2 lead into the final frame
• Eagle tallied all three runs batted in, scoring Claire Zbylut on a double to center in the top of the seventh
• Lexi Chase started in the circle, giving up six runs on 12 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the loss
• Fauske, Eagle, and Kyra Knudtson each recorded two hits in the game

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Avarie Eagle: 2-for-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, double, homerun
• Kyra Knudtson: 2-for-2, 2 walks
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-4, 1 run

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• The Wolves and Peacocks played four scoreless innings of softball to open the contest with NSU scoring first in the top of the fifth
• Kamdyn Barrientos plated Liv Richardson on a single and came around to score herself on a passed ball
• Northern added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, taking a 4-0 lead
• Avarie Eagle singled to left, scoring Claire Zbylut, and Kyra Knudtson doubled to left center scoring Eagle
• Upper Iowa stormed back in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game with four runs of their own
• The game headed to extra innings, where UIU captured the lead in the bottom of the eighth
• Knudtson led the game with three hits for the Wolves, while Elly Smith and Kamdyn Barrientos each recorded two
• Abby Rux got the nod in game two, suffering the loss with five runs (four earned), eight hits, and three strikeouts

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Kyra Knudtson: 3-for-4, double, 1 RBI
• Elly Smith: 2-for-4
• Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-4, 1 run
• Clair Zbylut: 1-for-4, 1 run, double

 
UP NEXT
Northern closes out the 2023 season tomorrow at Winona State. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. against the Warriors.