ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern softball team battled the University of Wisconsin-Stout in a pair of one-run games Wednesday, as the Eagles took game one, 5-4, in walk-off fashion to extend their win streak to 10 games before a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in the nightcap put an end to UNW's winning ways. UNW's 10 consecutive victories ties for the third-longest streak in program history.  

Following the non-conference twin bill, the Eagles move to 15-17 overall, while the Blue Devils now sit at 13-15.

Game One
Stout scored in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but UNW stormed back with a three-run third to go on top, 3-2. Kaylee Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley Watkins) smashed a run-scoring double and Megan Threlkeld (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) drove in Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) to highlight the scoring.

The Blue Devils knotted the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth and forced extra innings.

With the international tiebreaker rule in play in the eighth inning, Stout scored in the top of the frame, but UNW continued its late-inning Reynolds Field magic with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure its 10th-straight victory.

After Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) used her speed to score from second on an error, Jennifer Ankrom (New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton) stepped in to deliver the game-winning hit. Ankrom blasted a ball to left field that plated Threlkeld to give the Eagles their second walk-off win in as many days.

Lauren Silbernick (Osakis, Minn./Osakis) went the distance in the circle, hurling all eight innings to pick up her ninth win of the year. She allowed just three earned runs. Morgan Pfaff (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) led the offense, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate.

Game Two
UW-Stout did all of its damage in the top of the fourth, scoring three runs to take a 3-0 advantage.

The Eagles battled until the final pitch, pushing two runs in the bottom of the seventh before seeing their comeback bid fall just short.

In the home half of the seventh, Ann Lokke (St. Francis, Minn./St. Francis) singled to score Kaylee Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley Watkins) and Jennifer Ankrom (New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton) doubled to right center to plate Megan Threlkeld (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville).

Ankrom and Kaylee Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley Watkins) both finished with a pair of hits each at the dish. Meghan Schroeder (Big Lake, Minn./Spectrum) suffered the loss, throwing the first five innings. She allowed just two earned runs on five hits.

The Eagles will resume Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Saturday, as UNW will travel to Duluth for a doubleheader with the College of St. Scholastica. Fans can find more information at www.unweagles.com.