MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team put together a dominant 5-0 win in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Championship game Saturday afternoon. The Eagles took down tournament host and no. 1 seed Bethany Lutheran for the second time in playoff action to secure the 2019 UMAC tournament title. With the win, the Eagles earn their second consecutive NCAA bid – their first round draw to be announced during Monday's selection show.
 
The Eagles enter NCAA postseason play with a 27-15 overall record. Tune in to the selection show at www.ncaa.com on Monday at noon.
 
In the double-elimination tournament, Northwestern entered Championship Saturday without a loss. The Eagles didn't waste any time, scoring two runs in the top of the first when Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) poked an RBI single through the left side to score Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) and Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) was hit by a pitch to bring in Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area).
 
The Eagles carried the 2-0 lead to the fifth inning when they tacked on another run after Ronning crushed a homer over the centerfield fence. Up by three in the top of seven, Northwestern wasn't done yet. Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake) connected on a sacrifice fly to score Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) before Ronning connected on her second homerun of the game – giving UNW the 5-0 edge.
 
With Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) in the circle, Northwestern allowed just one baserunner on in the bottom of seven before the sophomore retired the side. Kopacek gave up just five hits in the shutout win.
 
Ronning led the Eagles at the plate – going 3-for-4 with two bombs. Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) went 2-for-2 in the win, while Kayla Madison (North Branch, Minn./Forest Lake), Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and Megan Aasness (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Academy) each were credited with an RBI.
 
Bethany Lutheran finishes the year as the UMAC's regular season champions, holding a 27-12 record.
 
Follow Northwestern's postseason NCAA tournament play online at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram at @unwsoftball.