• Northern scored their five runs on 12 hits in game one, notching two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth, and two in the 12^th
• Down 1-0 heading into the top of the fourth, Lexi Chase connected for a single to left scoring Liv Richardson and Avarie Eagle
• The Wolves then extended their lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth on a line-out by Alexandria Arndt, scoring Eden Ford
• The Cougars chipped away with one run in the sixth and tied the game with a run in the seventh, sending the contest to extra innings
• The two teams were scoreless through the ninth, tenth, and 11^th innings with Northern breaking through in the 12^th
• The Wolves scored two runs on a single by Elly Smith (scoring Ashley Fauske) and throwing error by the USF third baseman (scoring Brooke Wolf)
• Northern then held Sioux Falls to just one run in the bottom of the 12^th, securing their third league victory of 2024
• Five Wolves tallied two hits in the win, led by Liv Richardson with a pair of doubles
• Lexi Chase threw all 12 innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in the win

• Liv Richardson: 2-for-5, 1 run, 2 doubles
• Avarie Eagle: 2-for-4, 1 run
• Elly Smith: 2-for-5, 1 RBI
• Lexi Chase: 2-for-4, 1 stolen base, 12.0 innings pitched, 8 strikeouts, win

• Northern State held two leads in game two, however Sioux Falls rallied with four runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to secure the split
• The Wolves tallied one run in the first, one in the second, and three in the fourth
• Taylor Coleman scored on an infield single by Kyra Knudtson in the first and Ashley Fauske scored on an infield single by Elly Smith in the second
• USF tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first and 2-2 in the bottom of the third, however NSU rallied back in the fourth
• Knudtson tallied her second infield single of the game, scoring Liv Richardson, while Fauske and Coleman came around to score on a single to right by Claire Zbylut in the fourth
• It was all Sioux Falls in the fifth and sixth innings with six runs, while the Wolves left four runners on base
• The Wolves scored their five runs on 16 hits, with five players notching multiple hit games led by Taylor Coleman with four
• Abby Rux suffered the loss, giving up six runs (four earned) on seven hits in 4.0 innings of work

• Taylor Coleman: 4-for-5, 2 runs, 1 double
• Claire Zbylut: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 stolen base
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-4, 2 runs
• Kyra Knudtson: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
• Liv Richardson: 2-for-4, 1 run

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Wayne, NE (NSUWolves.com) – With their third straight NSIC split, the Northern State University softball team earned their 18^th win of 2024. The Wolves tallied a come from behind win in game one and fell short in a 2-run loss in game two.

THE QUICK DETAILS

Final Score Game 1: NSU 8, WSC 4

Final Score Game 2: NSU 1, WSC 3

Records: NSU 18-15 (4-10 NSIC), WSC 6-28 (2-8 NSIC)

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME 1

• Wayne State jumped out to an early lead in game one, with a 3-run homer in the first
• The Wildcats held the Wolves at bay through 3-complete, however Northern broke through in the fourth with five runs on four hits
• Elly Smith kicked off the inning with a double to right and her pinch runner, Alysa Lowe came around to score on a single through the left side by Claire Zbylut
• With two outs in the inning, Kamdyn Barrientos single to center scoring Kyra Knudtson and the Wolves trailed by one
• Two runners were on base and Lexi Chase stepped to the plate, sending one over the right center fence for the 5-3 Northern State lead
• Emma Owens tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth on a homerun to right centerfield as well; Taylor Coleman and Knudtson scored on the play following a leadoff single and walk
• Wayne State recorded their final run in the bottom of the sixth and Northern closed out the 8-4 win
• NSU notched their eight runs on ten hits, without giving up a defensive error
• Zbylut and Owens led the team with multiple hits, as Zbylut notched three and Owens added two
• Mckenzie Wanner threw her fifth win of 2024 in a complete game with four strikeouts

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Claire Zbylut: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
• Emma Owens; 2-for-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, homerun
• Lexi Chase: 1-for-3, 1 run, 3 RBI, homerun
• Mckenzie Wanner: 7.0 innings pitched, 7 hits, 4 runs, 4 strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME 2

• The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third when Wayne State notched a 2-run homerun
• Northern responded with a run scored in the top of the fourth by Taylor Coleman, however it was their only run of the contest
• The Wildcats added a run of insurance in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly
• NSU recorded six hits in the game and left seven runners on base; they also continued to play perfect defense without an error
• Alexandria Arndt led the offense going 2-for-3, while Lexi Chase notched the lone extra base hit for the Wolves; a double
• Chase suffered the loss, giving up all three runs on six hits with six strikeouts
• Abby Rux threw the final two innings and held Wayne State to just one hit

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Alexandria Arndt: 2-for-3

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