Winona, Minn. – In their regular season finale, the Northern State University softball team battled with third place Winona State, heading into extra innings in game one. The Wolves ultimately fell to the Warriors, concluding their season with a 14-34 record overall.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 5, WSU 6 (11 inn)
Final Score Game 2: NSU 1, WSU 8
Records: NSU 14-34 (8-20 NSIC), WSU 37-14 (20-6 NSIC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• The first contest of the doubleheader saw the Wolves and Warriors head to 11 innings of play
• Northern scored five runs on nine hits with one error, while Winona recorded six runs on 17 hits with two errors
• The Wolves struck first in the third inning with two runs scored by Alexandria Arndt and Liv Richardson on a double to right center by Lexi Chase
• The Warriors tied the game in the bottom of the frame, however Northern regained the lead in the fifth
• Avarie Eagle tallied her second homerun of the season, a long ball to left, scoring Eden Ford for the 4-2 lead
• WSU was not done, adding two runs in the bottom of the seventh and sending the game to extras
• Each team scored one run in the eighth, with Richardson plating Ford on a double down the right field line
• The two teams played two scoreless innings of softball in the ninth and tenth, leaving a combined five runners on base
• Winona State added the game winning run in the 11^th with an RBI double to right center by team leading hitter Abbie Hlas
• Lexi Chase started for the Wolves, throwing 7.2 innings of work where she gave up five runs on 13 hits with five strikeouts and two walks
• Abby Rux entered in relief and ultimately suffered the loss, giving up one run on four hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched
• Kyra Knudtson and Richardson led the Wolves offense with two hits apiece, including two doubles by the Wolves centerfielder

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Liv Richardson: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, 2 doubles
• Kyra Knudtson: 2-for-5
• Avarie Eagle: 1-for-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, homerun

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Winona State jumped out to an early lead in game two, scoring four runs in the first and one in the second
• Northern tallied their lone run of the contest in the top of the fourth on a single by Emma Owens (scoring Ashley Fauske)
• The Warriors added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth and held the Wolves scoreless through the sixth and seventh
• NSU tallied their one run on six hits with one error defensively
• Abby Rux suffered the loss, giving up eight runs on ten hits with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work
• Abby Meads entered in relief, giving up just one hit in 1.1 innings pitched
• Owens led the Wolves offense with two hits, including a double

 
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Emma Owens: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, double
• Liv Richardson: 1-for-3, double
• Ashley Fauske: 1-for-4, 1 run

 
UP NEXT
Northern closes out the 2023 season with an 8-20 Northern Sun record, sitting 13^th in the league standings. The Wolves went 14-34 overall in their second season under the direction of head coach Ashley Schilling.