Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. (Feb. 22, 2008) -- The Northwestern College softball team kicked off their 2008 season with a doubleheader split on Friday, yielding a 5-1 loss to the Blue Devils before claiming Game 2 by a score of 2-1.

Despite a Northwestern run in the second inning, Stout turned up the heat in the fourth and seventh innings, with help from a fourth-frame homer.

Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) got the call to pitch for Northwestern, striking out one while allowing all five earned runs.

Northwestern recorded four hits in the game, striking out eight times in the process.

The day's second game was a bit of a switch, with the Eagles earning their season's first win.  The Eagles scored both of their runs in the first frame, as Rodgers followed back-to-back walks with a double.

Rodgers, who pitched the first game, recorded two hits from her third base-position in Game 2, earning half of NWC's total hits.

Kelsey Hanson (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) pitched all seven innings from the circle, giving up one earned run while striking out 10 to earn her first victory.

Northwestern (1-1) will hit the gym floor for a couple more weeks of practice before launching their annual trip to Fort Pierce, Florida.  The Eagles will play 11 games throughout a week and a half, beginning with St. Thomas University (Fla.) on March 7.