Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2

ST. PAUL (Apr. 5, 2008) – The Northwestern College softball team defeated UMAC-foe St. Scholastica for only the second time in over ten years on Saturday, making a 2-1 comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning in both team's conference opener. Ashley Weimer (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) hit a two-out triple to right center field, driving in both of the Eagles runs as they overcame a 1-0 St. Scholastica lead. St. Scholastica won the second battle, overcoming a 5-0 Northwestern lead after one inning to win 7-5.

 

Hits were few and far between for both teams in the first game, featuring a pitchers duel. Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) pitched a complete game to earn her third victory of the season.

 

The Saints struck first in the fifth inning, scoring on a wild pitch. The Eagles looked doomed until Weimer's triple gave NWC their first victory over St. Scholastica since 2002.

 

Game 2 was a completely different story, as both teams combined for 17 hits. Northwestern took command early, as Jenny Kortus (Milaca, Minn./Milaca) (Milaca, Minn./Milaca) hit an RBI single to center field, scoring Weimer. After Lauren August (Maple Plain, Minn./West Lutheran) (Maple Plain, Minn./West Lutheran) followed with another RBI single, Rhonda Morgan (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek)'s (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek) hit went off Kristin Swartz's glove, scoring two more runs for a total of five in the frame.

 

After a three-run third inning, St. Scholastica added two more runs to their total in the fourth to tie the game at 5-5. Two innings later, Robin Lake hit an RBI single, eventually giving the Saints the lead for good at 7-5.

 

Kelsey Hanson (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) and Rodgers both saw time in the second affair, with Rodgers (3-5) taking the loss.

 

Senior Natalie Slagter (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) (Prinsburg, Minn./Central Minnesota Christian) continued her hitting streak, going 1-for-3 in both games to bump her running total to 11. Rodgers was equally strong at the plate for NWC, going a combined 3-for-5 on the day.

 

Northwestern (7-8, 1-1 UMAC) will continue their UMAC schedule on Monday, when they travel to St. Bonifacius, Minn. to take on Crown College. The single game, which is a makeup from April 3, will start at 4 p.m.

 

St. Scholastica (2-14, 1-1 UMAC) is scheduled to host Northland on Sunday.