ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern softball team scored a combined 16 runs in Thursday's critical sweep of Bethany Lutheran College (8-14, 3-3) at Reynolds Field. With the victories, the Eagles improve to 15-11 overall and 4-2 in league play.

Game One
Northwestern fell behind 2-0 early, but used a consistent attack – which included a four-run sixth – to pick up the 8-3 win.

Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) tied the game in the fourth with a solo blast – her third of the year before Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area ) launched her third homer of the year off the top of the centerfield fence in the fifth. Nelson added two more RBI in the sixth with a double. Ronning, Nelson and Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North ) all finished with two hits apiece.

Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) (8-5) went the distance in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits. The lefty posted three strikeouts.

Game Two
The Eagles put together a pair of three-run innings en route to a five-inning run-rule win in game two.

Moriah Maunu (Glencoe, Minn./Glencoe-Silver Lake) (1-1) was stellar, surrendering just five hits and no runs, while striking out two.

Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) tallied two hits and Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area ) racked up three RBI – her team-leading 21st of the year – to lead the offensive attack.

The Eagles will be off until next Tuesday when they travel to St. Scholastica. Fans can visit unweagles.com to find more information, as well as follow @unwsoftball on Twitter.