Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team welcomed Hamline University to Reynolds Field for a Thursday night non-conference doubleheader. After falling to the Pipers in a 6-1 game one, the Eagles bounced back to take down the MIAC opponent, 7-3 in game two.
 
The Eagles move to 9-9 overall this season, while Hamline now rests at 7-9 on the year. Northwestern has bested the Pipers in four of the last five head to head meetings.
 
Game 1: Hamline 6, Northwestern 1
The Eagles took an early lead in game one when Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) singled up the middle to score Ciara Scheithauer (Rib Lake, Wis./Rib Lake). The 1-0 lead was short lived, however, as the Pipers put together a huge third inning – scoring five runs on six hits to take the definitive lead.
 
The Eagles were able to put together just three more hits in the game, not enough to make up for the Pipers big run.
 
Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) recorded two hits in the game, while Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake), Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland), Taylor Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) and Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) each added one.
 
Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) and Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) both saw action in the circle as Nelson was credited with the loss. Her record moves to 3-4 on the year. Kopacek threw four innings and allowed just one earned run.
 
Game 2: Northwestern 7, Hamline 3
The Eagles showcased a dominant performance in game two, scoring two runs off the bat in the bottom of the first inning as Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) and Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) batted in back to back runs.
 
Northwestern was at it again in the bottom of two as Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) singled through the right side to get the offense rolling. Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) followed up with an RBI single and Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) did the same, advancing the UNW lead to 4-1.
 
The Pipers tacked on one run in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles added three more in the bottom half of the inning when Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) homered and Ronning doubled to right center to bring home two runs. Ronning recorded a team-best four RBIs in the pair of games and leads UNW with 15 this season.
 
Mindy Forcer went 4-for-6 at the plate with two walks, three runs scored and three stolen bases. Ronning and Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) added three hits on the day.
 
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) started in the circle and pitched the complete seven-innings. With the win, the freshman improves to 3-1 this season.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Saturday, March 30 when they travel to Ashland, Wis. to take on Northland College in the UMAC opener. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will take place on Northland's football field.
 
Follow UNW softball online this season at www.unweagles.com