ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team (27-17) came ready to play – taking a major 4-0 lead over Wartburg (27-12) before falling in a nine-inning heartbreaker. The Knights went on to fall to UW-Eau Claire in the 5:30 PM elimination game. St. Thomas will face Eau Claire in the regional championship on Saturday.
In another historic season, the Eagles returned to the NCAA regional tournament after winning the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) tournament title and automatic bid. Northwestern came so close to making history, by winning in NCAA postseason play – but fell just short.
Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) got things going for Northwestern when she singled down the right field line to drive in
Mindy Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Valley-Watkins). In the same inning,
Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) crushed a two-RBI double and the Eagles quickly led 3-0.
Northwestern didn't wait long to extend the lead as
Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second to give UNW a 4-0 advantage.
Twice catcher
Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) caught the Knights stealing – first in the fifth inning with runners on second and third and again in the top of the eighth – eliminating the lead runner.
Wartburg didn't back down, the Knights added one run in the fourth, two in the sixth and one more in the seventh to send the game into extras.
It was the Knights who broke the tie, scoring twice in the top of nine on a tough fly ball to right field and again after baiting the Eagles into a run down, scoring before the out was made.
The Eagles recorded eight hits in the game led by
Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) with three and
Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) with two.
Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) walked twice and
Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) led with two RBIs.
Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) threw the complete nine-inning game, allowing just four earned runs in the tough loss.
Follow Northwestern during the off-season online at
www.unweagles.com or on Instagram at @unwsoftball.
