Wolves SB Weekend Recap

Aberdeen, S.D. (NSUWolves.com)  – The Northern State University softball team dropped both NSIC conference games versus No. 22 Winona State University on Saturday evening. The first game ended in the fifth via mercy rule, while the night cap went into extra innings.

THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final: NSU 0, WSU 9 (5 inn)
Game 2 Final: NSU 5, WSU 6 (8 inn)
Records: NSU 9-17 (1-3 NSIC), WSU 19-5 (4-0 NSIC)

GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Winona State scored first and broke the game open in the top of the second with six runs on six hits
  • The Warriors added three more runs in the top of the fifth, sealing the run rule victory
  • Just three Northern State runners reached base in the game, as the team tallied two hits and was held scoreless
  • Andrea Cherney suffered the loss, giving up six earned runs on six hits in just 1.2 innings of work
  • Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing the final 3.1 innings of work, and giving up three earned runs on four hits

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

  • Jamie Fisher: 1-for-2
  • Kennady Thompson: 1-for-2

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Northern State offense came out swinging in game two, as Jamie Fisher led off the contest with a single to centerfield
  • Two at-bats later, Kennady Thompson blasted her fifth homerun of the season, a line shot to right center field which gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead
  • Winona State answered back in the second with one run of their own, however the Wolves returned the favor in the bottom of the frame
  • Fisher doubled to right center, scoring Courtney Sjerven who led off the inning with a single to right
  • The Warriors continued to battle, taking a 4-3 lead with one run in the third and two in the fourth
  • Northern however who not lay down that easily, as Fisher tied the game at 4-all in the bottom of the fourth scoring Kaitlyn King who led off the inning with a single to right center
  • The Wolves then re-gained the lead in the following inning on a Courtney Sjerven single to left, scoring Julia Sullwold (pinch running for Jen Martin who singled up the middle)
  • NSU entered the seventh with a 1-run lead, however Winona State tied the game at five and held the Wolves scoreless in the bottom of the inning
  • Northern entered their second extra inning contest of the NSIC season, and was unable to secure the victory as WSU notched one run in the top of the eighth and sat the Wolves down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning
  • NSU tallied five runs on 12 hits with three errors defensively
  • Fisher recorded her ninth loss of the season, after starting the game and returning in the top of the eighth. The senior gave up two earned runs on five hits with six walks and two strikeouts
  • Makenzie Merritt threw 2.2 innings of relief giving up one earned run with two walks and three strikeouts

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

  • Courtney Sjerven: 2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, sacrifice hit
  • Kaitlyn King: 2-for-4, 1 run
  • Kennady Thompson: 1-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, homerun

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Aberdeen, S.D. (NSUWolves.com)  – After being swept yesterday evening, the Northern State University softball team returned to the Presentation College Dome and tallied a Sunday split versus Upper Iowa. The Wolves combined for five runs and 16 hits in the two games, while also recording their second league victory of 2019.

THE QUICK DETAILS
Game 1 Final: NSU 1, UIU 4
Game 2 Final: NSU 4, UIU 3
Records: NSU 10-18 (2-4 NSIC), UIU 10-11 (2-4 NSIC)

GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Upper Iowa pushed one run across in the top of the first, and grabbed another two runs in the second and one in the third to take a 4-0 lead
  • Northern State began to chip away in the bottom of the third, as Kennady Thompson flew out to center, scoring Madison Rutter who led off the inning with a single down the left field line
  • The Wolves however were unable to keep the rally going, and were held scoreless through the final four innings
  • NSU notched one run on five hits, with two errors defensively
  • Jamie Fisher started, throwing the first two innings of work, giving up two earned runs on three hits with a walk. The senior suffered her tenth loss of the season
  • Makenzie Merritt entered in relief and held the Wolves in the contest, giving up just one earned run in 5.0 innings of work

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

  • Cassidy Schaar: 1-for-2
  • Madison Rutter: 1-for-3, 1 run
  • Kennady Thompson: 1-for-3, RBI

GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Wolves jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first with one run on a single up the middle by Kennady Thompson scoring Jamie Fisher who led off the game with a single to right
  • Upper Iowa answered back in the top of the third, knotting the game up at one
  • After being held scoreless through the second, third, and fourth innings, the Wolves broke things open in the fifth
  • Jamie Fisher and Courtney Sjerven reached base via a single up the middle and fielder’s choice bunt leaving runners on for Kennady Thompson
  • Thompson connected for her sixth homerun of the season, a line shot to left center field, which gave Northern the 4-1 lead
  • Upper Iowa did not sit down easily, notching a 2-run rally in the top of the seventh
  • Andrea Cherney started for NSU throwing 4.0 innings, giving up just one earned run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Cherney re-entered in the top of the seventh, and held the Peacocks with runners in scoring position, earning her second save of the year
  • Makenzie Merritt entered in relief, throwing 2.2 innings in her fourth win of the season. She gave up just one earned run on two hits with a strikeout
  • Northern tallied four runs on 11 hits, with one error defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

  • Jamie Fisher: 3-for-3, 1 run
  • Kennady Thompson: 3-for-3, 1 run, 4 RBI, homerun
  • Sara Bendt: 2-for-3

UP NEXT 
Northern travels to the University of Mary on Wednesday for an NSIC doubleheader versus the Marauders. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. from the Sanford Athletic Complex in Bismarck.