"No-no." Rodgers goes the distance against North Central

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL -- Northwestern College showcased a no-hitter, a grand slam homerun and everything in between on Tuesday afternoon as the Eagles dismantled North Central University in both games of a doubleheader at Reynolds Field. NWC won the first game 10-0 before outlasting North Central 10-3 in the second game of the twin bill.

In Game 1, Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) pitched her first collegiate career no-hitter, coming just one strike shy of a perfect game. Rodgers struck out five Rams, facing just one more than the minimum 15 batters in an abbreviated five inning contest.

After posting one run in the first inning, Rodgers' teammates came alive in the fourth frame, when the Eagles produced nine runs. Abbey Eagen (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) jumpstarted her day in the fourth with a fielder's choice that scored two runs. Alyssa Borgstrom (Amery, Wis./Amery) (Amery, Wis./Amery) and Leighana Nyquist (Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) also recorded RBIs before a single up the middle by Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) brought two more runs across the plate. In all, the fourth inning featured six NWC hits while North Central committed four errors.

Rodgers bulldozed through the Rams' three batters in the top of the fifth, paving the way for her game ball to be showcased in an Ericksen Center display case. The senior's no-hitter came 357 days after the last time Northwestern held its opponent without a hit, as Ashley Olson (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) no-hit Presentation on April 28, 2009.

While Northwestern's pitching wasn't as strong in the second game, the Eagle bats picked up the pace with more late-game runs to protect their home field. North Central started the game with a run in the first inning before NWC responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Jenna Ruby (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie) (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle) hit a two-out double to center field to score Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) and Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township).

Niether team scored in the ensuing innings until North Central took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Eagles came right back though, scoring five runs in the frame, much in part to a bases loaded-shot over the left field fence by Eagen. Northwestern produced three more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Borgstrom and Bicket recorded RBIs, and the Eagles were on their way to a sweep over North Central.

Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) hurled all seven innings for Northwestern, giving up three runs on six hits.

On the day, both Borgstrom and Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) finished 4-7 at the plate. Borgstrom led the team with two RBI, while Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) went 4-7

Eagen's home run was her second of the year. The senior tallied six RBI on the day, making her of six Eagles who have 17 or more RBI to their name this season.

With the wins, Northwestern hurdled the .500 mark for the first time this season. At 13-12 overall (7-3 UMAC), the Eagles are scheduled to have six more games this week, all of which are against conference opponents. The marathon will continue on Wednesday, when Crown College comes to Reynolds Field for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

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"No-no." Rodgers goes the distance against North Central