Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL -- Northwestern College's momentum in its softball home opener blew away with the wind on Tuesday as the Eagles dropped a pair of games to Augsburg College at Reynolds Field. The Eagles, who lost 5-2 and 9-0, will look to Thursday afternoon when NWC is scheduled to host North Central University.

Northwestern opened the first game with a lead, scoring twice in the bottom of the second inning. Kristin Sigurdsen (Barron, Wis./Barron) and #Erin  Wankerl hit back-to-back singles to start the frame before (Hill City, Minn./Hill City)Kelsey Timm# hit a one-out double down the right field line to record two runs batted in. The Eagles threatened to score more with two more runners on base, but Timm was gunned down at home before a strikeout ended the inning.

Augsburg got on the board in the fifth inning when Bri Dorale tripled to right field to score Emily Smith.
The Auggies then tied the score with a one-run fourth inning, courtesy of a defensive mistake on NWC's end. With a runner on first, an Eagles overthrow put ducks on the pond on first and third bases, and an Auggies single scored Bekka Kelly.

Errors continued to haunt Northwestern, as Augsburg gained the lead in the sixth frame. The Eagles had recorded two outs and were set for a third until a bobble and an overthrow allowed the Auggies to score. Augsburg padded their lead with two more scores in the seventh with NWC unable to produce any runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Timm threw all seven frames for Northwestern, striking out seven batters while taking credit for three of Augsburg's five runs. At the plate, Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello), Sigurdsen and Timm all collected two hits, with Timm earning both of the Eagles' RBIs.

Things continued to go downhill for Northwestern in the second game, as Augsburg scored nine unanswered runs to leave Reynolds Field after an abbreviated five-inning contest. The Auggies out-hit NWC 10-2 in the game with a three-hit, five-run second inning. Lindsay Helbach beat the west-blowing wind with a three-run home run before the visitors scored two more runs in both the third and fourth innings.

Molly Johnsen (Floodwood, Minn./Floodwood) struggled to sit the Auggies down from the pitcher's circle, giving up four earned runs while striking out five in all five innings of work for the Eagles. Johnsen and Anna Schurch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) were the only two NWC players to record hits at the plate.

Now 3-10 overall, Northwestern will immediately shift its attention to a Thursday doubleheader against the North Central Rams, who will come to Reynolds Field for a 4 p.m. first pitch.