By Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township)
FORT PIERCE, Fla.—After earning its first win of the season, the Northwestern College softball team split a double-header with Penn State University- Beaver, falling short 1-6 in the first game and coming out on top 5-4 in the second.
The Lady Lions obtained a quick lead in the first inning of the game. An Eagle defensive error plus a walk put two Penn State runners on base, who were both hit in by a single to right field. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that the Lady Lions put one more run on the board. With bases loaded and two outs, NWC was able to get the last out, leaving the score at 0-3.
The lone run for the Eagle's came in inning five when Cindy Frisch (Sumner, Iowa/Sumner-Fredericksburg)'s (Sumner, Iowa/Sumner-Fredericksburg) single to left field allowed Rhonda Morgan (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek)'s (Andover, Minn./Meadow Creek) RBI hit to the left side to raise the score 1-3. The next two batters grounded out, leaving Morgan on base and giving the Lady Lions a chance to widen their lead in the bottom of the inning.
Penn State rallied in two more runs in the fifth and one in the sixth. Evidenced in the two hits total for the game, Northwestern couldn't find the power in the bat that it needed, resulting in a 1-6 loss. The only two players with hits were Morgan, who was 1-3 at the plate, grabbing the single RBI, and Frisch, going 1-2.
Pitching for the Eagles was Kelsey Hanson (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis), giving up four earned runs and tallying four strikeouts.
Discontent with another loss, a determined NWC battled Penn State through four scoreless innings in game two. After a quick first inning, the Lady Lions almost took a lead in the second with bases loaded and two outs. Looking for the first run of the game, Penn State was caught in a rundown between third and home, becoming the third out without scoring.
The Eagles had their chance to take the lead in the fourth, when a double by Lauren August (Maple Plain, Minn./West Lutheran) (Maple Plain, Minn./West Lutheran) on two outs was followed by two more batters hit by the pitch, putting runners on every base. A line drive caught by the Lady Lion's center fielder kept the game scoreless going into the fifth.
With four hits in the fifth inning, Penn State was the first to put numbers on the board with three runs. Northwestern was able to stop the rally with two Lady Lions left on base.
In the last inning of the competition, Penn State grabbed one more run, bringing the score 4-0 as the Eagles had their last chance at bat. A single by Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) and a double by Frisch were just what Northwestern needed as they continued to run around the bases. Morgan was hit by the pitch, putting runners on every base while Alyssa Borgstrom (Amery, Wis./Amery)'s (Amery, Wis./Amery) two RBI double to left center were the first runs for the Eagles. Next up to the plate was Jenny Kortus (Milaca, Minn./Milaca) (Milaca, Minn./Milaca), doubling through the left side and rallying two RBI, bringing the game to a 4-4 tie. Sealing the deal, Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) hit a single RBI, giving NWC its second win of the season, 5-4.
Although taking the victory in the final inning, the Eagles had three errors in the game while the Lady Lions finished with none. Yet Northwestern lead with eight hits compared to the Lady Eagle's seven, as Kortus went 2-4 at the plate and posted two RBI while Ashley Weimer (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) went 1-2 offensively. Borgstrom took two RBI while Rodgers accounted for the fifth and final RBI for the Eagles. At the mound, Rodgers only allowed one earned run and struck out five Penn State batters.
