Liberty, MO (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University softball team opened their spring break road trip with a split at William Jewell on Sunday. The Wolves dropped game one after leaving six runners on base through seven innings. NSU bounced back in game two, securing a victory with three runs on five hits and a solid outing by Lexi Chase.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, WJC 4
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, WJC 1
Records: NSU 6-6, WJC 3-12
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1
- William Jewell struck first in the bottom of the first inning with two runs and added two more in the bottom of the fifth
- Despite leaving runners on base in five of the first six innings, the Wolves broke through in the seventh
- Elly Smith led off the inning with an infield single and Hannah Smith entered the game to pinch run
- Emma Owen made her first plate appearance of the day, pinching hitting for Barrientos, and dropped in a single by the shortstop
- With two outs and runners on first and third, Claire Zyblut connected for her second homerun of the season, a 3-run blast to center
- The Wolves however were unable to tie the contest and ultimately fell by one run
- Abby Rux suffered the loss, giving up two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts
- Lexi Chase entered in the sixth, throwing 1.1 shutout innings with three strikeouts for the Wolves
- The Northern offense tallied seven hits in the game and gave up two errors defensively
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Claire Zyblut: 1-for-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, homerun
- Elly Smith: 1-for-2, walk
- Lexi Chase: 1.1 innings pitched, 3 strikeouts
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2
- The two teams played scoreless softball through the first three innings of action
- William Jewell struck first in the bottom of the fourth with one run, however the Wolves quickly answered in the fifth
- Kamdyn Barrientos led off the inning with a single to left and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Hoelscher to tie the game
- Ashley Fauske gave the Wolves a 2-1 lead, scoring on a bunt by Claire Zyblut and Zyblut extended that lead scoring on a single by Lexi Chase
- Chase scored a run and threw her third win of the season, notching seven strikeouts in seven innings of work
NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Lexi Chase: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base, 17.0 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 earned run, 7 strikeouts
- Kamdyn Barrientos: 1-for-3, 1 run
UP NEXT
Northern will close out the 3-game series with the Cardinals tomorrow. First pitch has been pushed back to 2:30 p.m. from Liberty. Live stats and video are available on the schedule page at nsuwolves.com.