Fayette, IA (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University softball team dropped a pair of NSIC contests on Saturday to Upper Iowa University. The Wolves led in game two, however a seventh inning comeback by the Peacocks tied the contest where NSU fell in the eighth.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, UIU 6
Final Score Game 2: NSU 4, UIU 5 (8 inn)
Records: NSU 14-32 (8-18 NSIC), UIU 17-26 (9-16 NSIC)
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1
- Northern tallied three runs on nine hits in game one, playing errorless defense
- The Peacocks recorded one run apiece in the first, third, and fourth innings, taking a 3-0 lead
- NSU answered back in the top of the fifth, plating two runs off a homerun to right by Avarie Eagle (scoring Ashley Fauske)
- Upper Iowa tacked on another three runs in the sixth, taking a 6-2 lead into the final frame
- Eagle tallied all three runs batted in, scoring Claire Zbylut on a double to center in the top of the seventh
- Lexi Chase started in the circle, giving up six runs on 12 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the loss
- Fauske, Eagle, and Kyra Knudtson each recorded two hits in the game
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Avarie Eagle: 2-for-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, double, homerun
- Kyra Knudtson: 2-for-2, 2 walks
- Ashley Fauske: 2-for-4, 1 run
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2
- The Wolves and Peacocks played four scoreless innings of softball to open the contest with NSU scoring first in the top of the fifth
- Kamdyn Barrientos plated Liv Richardson on a single and came around to score herself on a passed ball
- Northern added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, taking a 4-0 lead
- Avarie Eagle singled to left, scoring Claire Zbylut, and Kyra Knudtson doubled to left center scoring Eagle
- Upper Iowa stormed back in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game with four runs of their own
- The game headed to extra innings, where UIU captured the lead in the bottom of the eighth
- Knudtson led the game with three hits for the Wolves, while Elly Smith and Kamdyn Barrientos each recorded two
- Abby Rux got the nod in game two, suffering the loss with five runs (four earned), eight hits, and three strikeouts
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Kyra Knudtson: 3-for-4, double, 1 RBI
- Elly Smith: 2-for-4
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 2-for-4, 1 run
- Clair Zbylut: 1-for-4, 1 run, double
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Winona, MN (NSUWolves.com) – 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 11th 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’s season comes to a close with an 8-20 Northern Sun record, sitting 13th in the league standings. The Wolves went 14-34 overall in their second season under the direction of head coach Ashley Schilling.