Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ST. PAUL – The Northwestern College softball team battled the cold on Wednesday and went 2-0 on the afternoon after posting 18-2 and 16-1 victories over North Central University. The Eagles capitalized on big innings in each contest to improve to 6-4 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action.



NWC got on a roll early after a Megan VanHulzen (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Park Center) single from the fourth spot brought in two runs, while Morgan Pfaff (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) sent a ball up the middle just two batters later to bring in the third score of the inning, and put the visiting team on the scoreboard up 3-0 in the top of the first.

North Central responded with one run in the second inning, but the Eagles were able to keep things quiet until the top of the third, when their bats started firing once more. Another Pfaff hit sent Rodgers home before Anna Schurch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) carried on the momentum with a double to right center, scoring two of her teammates. The next scoring opportunity came as a result of a Kelsey Stoltman (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) sacrifice fly ball from the top of the lineup, allowing Schurch to make it to home plate. The final two runs of the half-inning came from a defensive error, which freed up time for both Witthus and Molly Johnsen (Floodwood, Minn./Floodwood) to score.

Once again, NCU posted a single-run inning before NWC would continue its prior offensive action, tallying an eight run top of the fourth that saw the whole lineup get in the batter's box. The Eagles got hits from Young, Pfaff, Briana Rodgers (Monticello, Minn./Monticello), and VanHulzen, while Stoltman, Rodgers, VanHulzen and Pfaff all picked up runs batted in (RBI) in the streak.  Before the final out had been cast, Northwestern had increased the margin to 17-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

NWC was able to fend off any North Central runs before making its final push of the matchup with a Rodgers single to left center, which brought Witthus around the bases and secured the final score at 18-2. In the first five innings of play, the Eagles got hits from seven different players, and racked up 14 RBI in the process. Johnsen picked up her seventh victory of the season, striking out seven while walking two.

The second game looked familiar to the first, as the Purple and Gold scored early as Stoltman and Sigurdsen combined for back-to-back hits to put the visitors on the scoreboard up early. Schurch capped off the inning scoring after earning credit for an RBI as a result of her center field single, leaving the score at 2-0 to start the game.

As was the trend of the afternoon, the Rams responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the first, but NWC was able to control the contest before the advantage was tied.

Another big inning was soon to come, as the Eagles rattled off six runs off of eight hits in the bottom of the second, thanks to a string of three hits, including doubles from Stoltman and Sigurdsen, contributed to two early runs. Next up was another rally of doubles, this time by VanHulzen, Young, and Schurch, which brought in three more inning runs. The final score of the rally came from Erin Kleinjan (Avon, Minn./Holdingford) who nailed a sacrifice fly to left field, providing a way for Schurch to cross home plate. At the end of the inning, NWC was up 8-1, a lead that would not surmounted throughout the rest of play.

The final stretch proved to be an added opportunity for Northwestern offense, as Sigurdsen nailed a homer outside of the fence, kicking off the eight-run inning. After a Rodgers single, VanHulzen joined the home run crew with one of her own, rounding the bases with credit for two RBI. The Eagles were able to capitalize on five North Central errors to take a 16-1 advantage that would remain through the last half-inning, thanks to three key defensive outs by the NWC infield.

Anna Schurch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) took home her second win of the year after pitching the full five innings after allowing the just four hits. On the offensive side of action, five different Eagles totaled three or more hits in the contest, while two more notched two RBI.

Northwestern (10-14 overall) will now have a quick day off before facing off with Bethany Lutheran College on Friday at 3 p.m.  As with all NWC spring sports, information regarding upcoming games will be posted on nwceagles.com as it becomes available.