ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern softball team (25-15) made its first-ever appearance in an NCAA Regional Thursday, as the Eagles took on regional host and No. 7 St. Thomas (36-6). After a quick start, UNW was unable to generate any offense, falling 9-1 to the Tommies in six innings.



If the Eagles had any jitters, they didn't show it, as leadoff hitter Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) quickly found herself on second base following a St. Thomas throwing error. Forcier then swiped third and raced home after the Tommies committed their second error of the inning on the throw down.

UST knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second, using an inside-the-park home run to even things up.

The Tommies then broke things open in the fourth, stringing together five hits to plate five runs to take a 6-1 lead. They would capitalize on three uncharacteristic UNW errors in the sixth to tack on three more runs and seal the win.

Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) (13-8) was tagged with the loss in the circle, hurling the first 4.2 innings. The left-hander gave up six runs on eight hits.

UNW will take on Central College Friday at 1:30 p.m. in an elimination game. Central was defeated by UW-Oshkosh, 5-2, in Thursday's first game. More information can be found at www.unweagles.com.