Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

ST. PAUL – The Northwestern College softball team won its fourth and fifth straight games on Wednesday, handing Crown College 3-0 and 8-4 losses.

In the first game, pitcher Molly Johnsen (Floodwood, Minn./Floodwood) threw a one-hitter en route to her first shutout of the year. Johnsen, who reached first base on a fielder's choice in her first at-bat, scored the Eagles' first run of the game on a Lauren Walker (Shoreview, Minn./Concordia Academy) RBI triple to right field.

NWC's other two runs came in the fourth inning. Kristin Sigurdsen (Barron, Wis./Barron) took advantage of a Storm fielding error to take first base before coming around to score as Kelsey Timm (Iowa Falls, Iowa/Iowa Falls-Aiden) doubled to right, earning an RBI in the process. With two outs on the board, Ali Witthus (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) singled to score Timm.

Despite scoring three runs, the Eagles left seven runners on base in the game. Johnsen finished with eight strikeouts. In the batter's box, Walker and Witthus each had two hits, with both earning RBIs.

Game 2 showcased a little more action from both dugouts. Northwestern more than doubled its runs from the first contest, while Crown scored four runs in the game.

The Storm scored the first run of the game after Akina Zucarro led off with a double and scored in Misa Matetich's at-bat. NWC responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, starting with back-to-back singles from Kelsey Stoltman (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) and Kristin Sigurdsen (Barron, Wis./Barron).  Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) hit an RBI single to score Stoltman before Sigurdsen crossed the plate on a Walker groundout. Another Timm double on the day scored Rodgers shortly before Erin Wankerl (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) tripled to right center to force an early exit for Crown's pitcher, Laura Berman.

The Eagles added three more runs in the second to take a 7-1 lead. Two straight Storm errors allowed Stoltman and Witthus to score while Walker earned an RBI, scoring Sigurdsen on a groundout. Crown got a run back in the top half of the third as a Matetich walk eventually resulted in the junior touching home plate.

NWC's final run of the game came in the fifth, as Witthus grounded out, scoring Jennifer Owen (Kenosha, Minn./Bradford) in the process.

Anna Schurch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) went all seven innings for the Eagles in the pitcher's circle, striking out seven batters while allowing eight hits and two earned runs. Rodgers went 3-4 at the plate with an RBI, while Sigurdsen and Walker each tallied a pair of RBI.

Now 12-16 overall and 7-4 in UMAC action, Northwestern will get a practice session in on Thursday before heading south for a pair of weekend doubleheaders. The Eagles will face Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn. on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. before taking on Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. at 1 p.m.