Winter Haven, FL (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University softball team opened their 10-game spring break trip on Monday with a split. The Wolves fell in extra innings to Northwood and defeated Slippery Rock in a pair of 1-run games.

THE QUICK DETAILS

Final Score Game 1: NSU 2, NU 3 (8 Inn.)

Final Score Game 2: NSU 2, SCSU 3

Records: NSU 9-3, NU 9-7, SRU 3-10

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. NORTHWOOD

• The two teams played five innings of scoreless softball, before Northern broke things open in the top of the sixth
• Liv Richardson scored on a double to centerfield by Kyra Knudtson, and Knudtson scored on an RBI groundout by Alexandria Arndt
• The Timberwolves tied the game in the bottom of the frame and neither team was able to secure the win in regulation
• Per tournament guidelines, the contest went to the eighth inning and the international tiebreaker rule was in effect, with NU tallying one run on an errant throw in the eighth
• Northern scored their two runs on seven hits, giving two errors defensively
• Elly Smith led the offense going 2-for-3, while Knudtson and Arndt grabbed the team’s two RBI
• Lexi Chase suffered the loss, giving up seven hits and three runs with six strikeouts

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Elly Smith: 2-for-3
• Kyra Knudtson: 1-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, double, walk
• Liv Richardson: 1-for-4, 1 run

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. SLIPPERY ROCK

• Northern tied the contest and game from behind in their 1-run victory over Slippery Rock
• The Wolves scored seven runs on 11 hits with two defensive errors
• The Rock took a 3-0 lead through the fourth, however the Wolves answered in the bottom of the frameher
• Ashley Fauske plated Lexi Chase on a single and Liv Richardson tallied her first homerun of the season, scoring Claire Zbylut on the play
• SRU regained the lead with three runs in the sixth and NSU began chipping away in the following at-bats
• After scoring a run in the fourth, Zbylut added an RBI with a double that scored Chase
• Avarie Eagle tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Alexandria Arndt
• Arndt came around with the go-ahead game winner on a single by Eden Ford, scoring the Wolves ninth win of the season
• Fauske, Zbylut, and Richardson each tallied two hits apiece, while Chase led the offense going 3-for-3
• Abby Rux threw her third win of the season in a complete game with seven strikeouts and no earned runs

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Lexi Chase: 3-for-3, 2 runs, triple
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, walk
• Claire Zbylut: 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI, double
• Liv Richardson: 2-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, homerun
• Abby Rux: 7.0 innings pitched, 7 hits, 7 strikeouts, win

UP NEXT

Northern continues their Florida trip tomorrow taking on Quincy University and American International. Game times are set for 8 a.m. (CT) against QU and 10:15 a.m. (CT) against AIC. Live stats will be available for the American International contest. Full statistics for the Northwood contest will be added to nsuwolves.com and the team statistics page when they are available.