DULUTH, Minn. – Two-plus inches of snow on the ground on Saturday morning didn't stop the UMAC Softball Postseason Tournament from missing a beat.  Northwestern College, the tournament's second seed, didn't miss a beat in its first game of the day either, beating third-seeded Northland College 3-1.

After Northland scored a run in the second inning, the Eagles answered with two runs in the third inning.  With two outs and Leighana Nyquist (Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) on first base, Alyssa Borgstrom (Amery, Wis./Amery) (Amery, Wis./Amery) tripled to right center, bringing Nyquist home.  A Northland error worked to the Eagles' advantage, as Borgstrom scored before the inning ended.

NWC added an insurance run in the fifth when Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) singled through the right side to score Borgstrom.  Amanda Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) did the rest of the work from the pitcher's circle as the senior allowed four hits in the game while striking out five.

Northwestern was only able to record four hits in the game - as was Northland – but the Eagles made contact when they needed to.  The LumberJills left nine runners on base, thanks much in part to two NWC double plays in the game.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, Northwestern wasn't able to produce another victory on the day as the tournament's host and No. 1 seed in the College of St. Scholastica posted a 6-2 victory over NWC.  Jen Falk, who gave the Eagles fits from the pitcher's circle earlier this season, held Northwestern to seven hits but just two runs.

Both of the Eagles' runs came in the fourth inning, but the Saints had already owned a 3-0 lead going into the frame.  After a walk and a double, Borgstrom and Nyquist crossed the plate on an RBI double by Kristie Bicket (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township) (Zion, Ill./Zion-Benton Township).  NWC's Ashley Olson (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd), who went all six innings from the pitcher's rubber, yielded runs in the fourth and fifth inning before taking the loss.

Nyquist and Bicket accounted for five of the Eagles' seven hits and both of the team's RBI.  St. Scholastica steadily piled on 12 hits in the game despite Olson striking out seven.

The Eagles will begin Day 2 of the tournament, a rare Sunday event for Northwestern, with a 10 a.m. game against Northland, who beat fourth-seeded Minnesota-Morris to stay alive.  Sunday's initial winner will turn around and face St. Scholastica again in the championship game at 12 p.m.