Augsburg overtakes NWC in late innings

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Northwestern College softball team couldn't hold on to a 4-2 lead over Augsburg College on Saturday, as a three-run fourth inning put the Eagles on the short side of a 5-4 final score. The Auggies shutout NWC 4-0 in Game 2 of the doubleheader.

After Augsburg scored runs in the first and second innings, Northwestern responded with a four-spot in the top of the third frame. After Leighana Nyquist (Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) and Alyssa Borgstrom (Amery, Wis./Amery) (Amery, Wis./Amery) both reached base to start the inning, Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) brought both players home with a two-RBI-single up the middle. Abbey Eagen (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) followed with a two-RBI single of her own down the left field line, scoring Jenna Ruby (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie) (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie) and Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello).

The Auggies came back in the bottom of the fourth, rattling pitcher Ashley Olson (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) after the Eagles forced back-to-back outs to start the inning. Augsburg's Melissa Larsen cruised in the pitcher's circle from there, blanking NWC the rest of the way to preserve a 5-4 final score.

Game 2 wasn't any better for Northwestern as the Auggies blanked the Eagles 5-0. NWC's Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) recorded her team's only hit of the game.

Augsburg scored four runs in the first inning before adding another in the third to complete their five runs for the game. The Auggies' Kylee Persing struck out six of the 23 batters she faced.

On the day, Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) recorded two hits with a pair of RBI, while Eagen posted a pair of hits as well.

With the losses, Northwestern falls to 5-9 on the season. The Eagles will open their UMAC schedule on Tuesday, April 6, when NWC hosts Crown College in a single seven-inning game. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m.

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