Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL -- The Northwestern College softball team split a Thursday afternoon doubleheader with Bethany Lutheran College, losing 4-0 before beating the Vikings 13-2 in the second game.

In the first contest of the day, Bethany Lutheran scored three of its four runs in the fifth and sixth innings despite being out-hit by the Eagles 7-6 throughout the game. In addition to posting seven hits in the game, Northwestern had several chances to score, which was evidenced by the 11 runners left on base. As they have in previous games this season, errors haunted NWC, as all four errors went unearned on pitcher Kelsey Timm (Iowa Falls, Iowa/Iowa Falls-Aiden)'s (Iowa Falls, Iowa/Iowa Falls-Aiden) record. Timm pitched all seven innings for the Eagles, giving up six hits while striking out three.

Things quickly changed for the home team in Game 2 as three first inning runs led to a scoring spree and a 13-2 victory in an abbreviated five inning contest. The problem of leaving runners on base quickly vanished as Kristin Sigurdsen (Barron, Wis./Barron) (Barron, Wis./Barron) doubled to center field in her first at-bat of the game to score Alyssa Borgstrom (Amery, Wis./Amery) (Amery, Wis./Amery). Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) (Monticello, MInn./Monticello) followed with a home run to score herself and Sigurdsen.

NWC wasn't close to being done as the Eagles tacked on four more runs in the second inning, courtesy of three hits and a Vikings error. Sigurdsen and Rodgers picked up more RBI after both walked with the bases loaded before Jenna Ruby (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie) (Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Gray Eagle) singled up the middle to score a pair of runs. The Purple and Gold put the icing on the cake with a five-run fifth to send Bethany Lutheran home early.

Anna Schurch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) (Lakeville, Minn./North) pitched a five-inning complete game for Northwestern in the nightcap, allowing two earned runs while striking out three. At the plate, Borgstrom was 3-4, scoring three times while Leighana Nyquist (Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) and Rodgers each had two hits in the batter's box.

Now 13-15 overall and 8-5 in UMAC play, Northwestern will take a brief rest before their next scheduled contests on Friday against Martin Luther College at Reynolds Field. If the forecasted rain holds off, Friday's first pitch will be thrown at 1 p.m.