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Kristin Sigurdsen
Northwestern Sports Information

Softball

Two games, two home runs: Sigurdsen's bombs lift Eagles over Bethany Lutheran

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL -- The Northwestern College softball team has had quite the week, winning all six of their games while adding on to their now 10-game winning streak after a doubleheader sweep of Bethany Lutheran College. At 10-3 in UMAC play, the Eagles are just two games behind first place St. Scholastica in the conference standings.

Northwestern steadily scored runs in Game 1, crossing the plate twice in both the first and second innings. Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) singled to right-center to score Alyssa Borgstrom (Amery, Wis./Amery) (Amery, Wis./Amery) and Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) in the first inning before an error and a wild pitch allowed Kristen Sigurdsen (Barron, Wis./Barron) and Borgstrom to score in the second.

Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) highlighted a six-run third inning for the Eagles as the freshman launched a hit over the left center fence for two RBI. Prior to Rodgers' bomb, Bicket tripled to right center, scoring Leighana Nyquist (Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) and Sigurdsen. Jenna Ruby (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie) (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle) also earned an RBI with a single in the inning.

Bethany Lutheran showed some life in the fifth inning as the Vikings staved off an eight-run rule with three runs on four hits. Bethany scored again in the sixth, but that run didn't mean much after Sigurdsen answered with a solo shot of her own in the bottom of the frame to account for her first collegiate home run and seal the 11-4 win for the Eagles.

NWC's Ashley Olson (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd) pitched a nearly flawless game until the fifth when she took credit for two runs. Overall, Olson faced 29 batters in seven innings, giving up four runs on eight hits.

Game 2 didn't featured more pitching and defense throughout the early innings before the bats started to come alive late in the game. Kelsey Timm (Iowa Falls, Iowa/Iowa Falls-Aiden) (Iowa Falls, Iowa/Iowa Falls-Alden) held Bethany Lutheran scoreless from the pitcher's circle for the first three innings. NWC wasn't able to score until the third inning, when Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) doubled to right field to score Nyquist.

The Vikings responded with a run of their own in the fourth before Northwestern regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Back-to-back errors by Bethany Lutheran gave the Eagles a bases loaded situation and Sigurdsen made the most of it, singling down the left field line to score Ruby. After Erin Wankerl (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) was hit by a pitch with the bases juiced again, Jessica Lokken (Goodland, Minn./Nashwauk-Keewatin) (Goodland, Minn./Nashwauk-Keewatin) crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly by Bicket.

Bethany knotted the score with a three-hit, three-run sixth inning. Sigurdsen, who had already recorded three hits and two RBI on the day, didn't make the Eagles wait long to take the lead again as she sent her second home run of the day over the left field fence. The freshman's solo bomb gave Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) all she needed to save the game from the rubber, and Northwestern posted a 6-5 victory.

Timm went six innings in the circle, giving up four runs although just one of them was earned. Timm struck out two while allowing six hits. After giving up a two-out walk, Rodgers forced Bethany Lutheran's Amanda Edmison into a groundout to earn the save.

Sigurdsen was the Eagles' offensive star of the day, but the team's leading hitter had an excellent supporting cast. Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) finished 5-7 at the plate with two RBI, while Nyquist went 3-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Northwestern will have an opportunity to add more wins to its current streak on Saturday if inclement weather stays away. The Eagles, who now stand at 17-12 on the season, are scheduled to host Martin Luther College in a 1 p.m. twin bill at Reynolds Field.
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