ROCHESTER, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team made the trek south for a pair of games at the Rochester Dome Saturday afternoon. The Eagles put together 27 hits enroute to an 11-4 win over Knox and an 8-3 final to take down Macalester. The Eagles move to 3-1 on the year as they head into a week of Spring Break action in Clermont, Fla. at the 2019 Spring Games.
 
Northwestern 11, Knox 4
 
The Eagles set the tone early in game one, scoring four runs on five hits to take a 4-0 lead. The run was sparked by an RBI single from sophomore Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) that drove in two runs and back to back hits from Ciara Scheithauer (Rib Lake, Wis./Rib Lake) and Taylor Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) to drive in another set of runs for a productive inning.
 
Despite Knox responding with two runs of its own in the top of the second, the Eagles' bats stayed hot – this time propelled by singles from Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) and Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland). Northwestern added two runs in the third, one in the fourth, a pair in the fifth and their 11th and final to close out the bottom of six.
 
Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) led the way for UNW offensively, going 4-4 at the plate with an RBI. Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) batted in three runs on one hit, while Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) and Taylor Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) connected on three hits apiece.
 
Freshman Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) earned the win in the circle, pitching seven complete innings but allowing just four hits and two earned runs. She struck out four.
 
Northwestern put together 17 hits, earned 10 of their 11 runs and walked five times in the 11-4 win.
 
Northwestern 8, Macalester 3
 
The Eagles suffered a 2-0 early deficit to the Scots, but took over after a dominant fourth and fifth inning at the plate. Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) got the bats going, singling to center to start off the inning. Ehnstrom laid down a sacrifice before Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) singled to advance Schmidt. It was Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) who brought the Eagles home after doubling to center field.
 
After scoring two more in the top of the fifth, UNW held on to a 5-2 lead. Macalester scored once more, but Northwestern didn't hold back. The Eagles tacked on three more runs in the top of seven to secure the 8-3 final win.
 
A trio of UNW players recorded two hits apiece in the contest including Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland), Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) and Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins). Briggs led with three RBI's. Aasness went 6-6 at the plate in Saturday action.
 
Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) pitched seven complete innings, allowing 11 hits and three runs to earn the non-conference win.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Friday, March 8 when they take on Monmouth College in Clermont, Fla. You can follow the Spring Games online next week by clicking on the Live Stats and Video links on www.unweagles.com