WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. — Despite five runs, the University of Northwestern softball team couldn't hold Finlandia's offense in 9-5 loss Wednesday afternoon. Despite two runs right away in the first inning, the Eagles couldn't keep up with the Lions offensive push.

Ann Lokke (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) hit a two-out RBI single to right center, allowing Emily Guerkink and Jennifer Ankrom (New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton) to score in the first inning. Ellen Larkin (Excelsior, Minn./Southwest Christian) came to the plate with two outs, as the bases were juiced after two consecutive walks for UNW. The first ended with a strikeout, leaving three left on base. Lokke started in the pitching circle for Northwestern. A ground rule double followed by UNW error at second base allowed Finlandia to score, tying the game on the next at-bat. The score was tied at 2-2 going into the second. Finlandia's Vasquez homered to left center, bringing in three runs for the Lions as they took a 5-2 lead. With the top of their lineup hitting the ball hard, UNW made three errors in first two innings alone.

Lokke recovered from a bases-loaded-groove, as she held Finlandia's lead to only three runs throughout the third. UNW had a runner on third with one out in the fourth, but the threat was squashed with a strikeout and groundout from UNW's offensive lineup. The Lions added their sixth run of the game off an RBI single bringing their lead to 6-2 after 4 complete innings. UNW's Megan Threlkeld (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) led off the top of the fifth with a triple that sailed over the right fielder's head. Threlkeld scored two batters later. The Eagles loaded the bases with a count of two outs, but a groundout ended UNW's at-bats leaving three men left on base for the second time of the day.

FU added to their momentum in the bottom of the fifth with two additional two runs on two hits binging the score to 8-3. Threlkeld responded with a double in the top of the sixth, allowing Guetter to score from second. Threlkeld was a homerun shy of completing a cycle for the day as the score ended at 8-4. Holding Finlandia to a single run, the Eagles left three Lions on base in the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing the Lions 9-4. Kaylee Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley Watkins)'s single to right field turned into another run as the right fielder struggled to catch up to her ball towards the fence, allowing her to score on same play in the top of the seventh.
Northwestern, still seeking their first win this season, will play Thursday morning at 10 a.m. against Bethany Lutheran College and again at 1 p.m. against Concordia College-Moorhead for their second match-up against the Cobbers this week.