ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Northwestern softball team was resilient in Thursday night non-conference action. The Eagles recorded come-from behind wins over a solid UW-River Falls team after Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) connected on a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth in game one and Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) drew a bases load RBI walk to seal the game two win. The Eagles imrove to 13-11 on the year as they prepare to welcome St. Scholastica to Reynolds Field on Saturday.

Game 1: Northwestern 5, UW-River Falls 4
The Falcons were first to score in Thursday's opening game, going up 4-0 before Northwestern struck back. In the bottom of the fifth, Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) got the Eagle offense moving by singling to left field in the leadoff spot. A pair of steals from Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins) and Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North), coupled with a bunt that scored a run from Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area), cut the deficit to one.

The Eagles tied it up in the bottom of six when singles from Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) and Kopacek put runners in scoring position for Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North). Hannasch capitalized on the opportunity, singling to left to even the score at 4-4.

After a scoreless seventh inning, the game moved to international tiebreaker rules in the eighth. With Kopacek in the circle, UNW retired all three Falcon batters to start extra innings. Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) singled to leadoff the bottom of the eighth and Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) followed with a bunt for hit. It was Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) who secured the win for the Eagles when she singled to left to score Hannasch and end the game at 5-4.

Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) threw eight complete innings and allowed just four Falcon hits to record her fifth win in the circle this season.

Game 2: Northwestern 7, UW-River Falls 6
Game two showcased another exciting match-up as Northwestern fell behind 5-2 after four complete innings of play. The three-run deficit quickly diminished when UNW scored four runs on three hits (largely due to a two-run homer from Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege)) to take back the lead.

The Falcons tacked on one run in the top of the seventh and it looked like extra innings could be on the horizon again. In 38 degree rainy weather, Northwestern didn't let down. They loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning and Abbie Nelson (Holdrege, Neb./Holdrege) drew a game-winning RBI walk to secure the 7-6 win.

Nelson went 2-for-2 at the plate with two home runs, two walks and four RBIs. 

All three pitchers shared the efforts in the circle, but it was Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) who finished out the final three to earn her second win of the day. 

The Eagles will return to play on Saturday, April 6 when they welcome St. Scholastica to Reynolds Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Follow UNW softball online this season at www.unweagles.com