SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Northern State split its doubleheader with the Cougars, winning 4-2 in Game 1 before nearly mounting a comeback in Game 2, losing 9-8.
QUICK DETAILS
Game One Final Score: NSU 4, USF 2
Game Two Final Score: USF 9, NSU 8
Records: NSU 19-25 (9-17 NSIC), USF 26-25 (14-12 NSIC)
GAME ONE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE 7, NORTHERN STATE 4
- Northern State tallied four runs off six hits, three RBIs, 21 putouts and nine assists
- After a scoreless three innings, Northern secured the first run in the game at the top of the fourth with Dessa Bryant bringing in Brooke Wolf from third
- But the Cougars took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, chalking two runs off one hit and two errors
- The Wolves would fight back in the sixth with Hailey Cota securing the first hit of the inning off a single to right field and would advance to second after an error brought Madi Jones to first
- With Dessa Bryant at the plate, the Wolf sent a shot right up the middle, advancing Jones to second and bringing Cota home for the game-tying run
- The Wolves would then put two more on the board in the top of the seventh, with Kennedy Boyer starting the inning off with a single up the gut
- After Aune Boben reached on a throwing error, Boyer was able to make her way around the bases to give NSU a 3-2 advantage
- But it was freshman Alicia Jeanson who put the nail in the coffin, recording a sac fly which brought Boben in for the fourth and final run for the Wolves
- A quick three up and three down for the Cougars would give the Wolves their 19th win of the season
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Dessa Bryant: 2-3, 2 RBIs, 1 putout
Aune Boben: 1-4, 1 run, 1 putout, 3 assists
Mckenzie Wanner: 7.0 IP, 5 strikeouts, 2 runs allowed
GAME TWO: SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE 9, NORTHERN STATE 0
- In NSU's narrow 9-8 loss in the second game, the Wolves recorded eight runs on 10 hits, eight RBIs, five doubles, 20 putouts and 10 assists
- The Cougars got off to a steady 5-0 after the bottom of the first before the Wolves fired back with two of their own in the third
- Jeanson started off the inning with a leadoff double before freshman first baseman Sydney Anderson earned a walk
- Both runners advanced off an out from Tevan Bryant before Cota loaded the bases courtesy of a USF error
- Madi Jones put a ball into play but sent the ball home, taking first off a fielder's choice but getting Jeanson out in the process
- Dessa Bryant continued her run after a successful first game, sending one down the right field line for a two-RBI double, bringing in Anderson and Cota
- After a scoreless third, Sioux Falls picked back up where they left off, bringing in three scores, taking an 8-2 lead
- That's when the Wolves kicked off a five-run fifth inning to put them within one
- With Shayla Warak on first, pinch running for Tevan Bryant, who earned first on a walk, Cota advanced Warak to third off a double
- After a Jones groundout, Dessa Bryant tallied another hit, this time bringing in both Cota and Warak
- Though a fielder's choice would send Dessa Bryant back to the dugout and put Kinsley Stover on first, she then stole second
- With a Kennedy Boyer walk and a Boben hit by pitch, Jeanson cleared the bags, bringing all the runners home
- Northern State then tied the game in the sixth off a Corina Coppersmith hit to bring Jones across the plate
- But a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh put a Cougar in scoring position, which would end up being a score to walk off the game
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Dessa Bryant: 4-4, 4 RBIs, 1 double, 1 assist
Hailey Cota: 1-4, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 putout
Alicia Jeanson: 3-4, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 putout, 2 assists
Corina Coppersmith: 1-1, 1 RBI, 1 double
UP NEXT
The Wolves will take the field for the final time next weekend as they host Wayne State on Saturday (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.) and Augustana on Sunday (noon and 2 p.m.) at Koehler Hall of Fame Field.
