DUNDAS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team opened 2020 action at the Dundas Dome when they matched up with MIAC opponent, St. Olaf in a pair of Saturday night contests. The Eagles put together a 3-0 lead in game one before falling in a close 8-6 final. The Oles took game two, 9-1 in five innings of play.
 
Northwestern begins the year with a 0-2 mark, but will look to even out their record with a pair of games in Rochester, Minn. next weekend. St. Olaf improves to 3-1 this season after being picked to finish fifth in the MIAC preseason coaches' poll.
 
Game One: St. Olaf 8, Northwestern 6
Five Eagles made their collegiate debut as the Eagles went up 3-0 on the Oles after two innings of action. Freshman right fielder, Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area), drew a walk to bring in a run before Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) and Cherramae Erickson (Foreston, Minn./Milaca) scored on a throwing error and wild pitch.
 
The Oles scored one in the third and put together three runs on four hits to take a 4-3 lead after four complete. They tacked on four more runs in sixth inning, but Northwestern didn't fold. Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) and Bridgette Kollos (Mapleton, Minn./Maple River) drew walks before Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) and Cherramae Erickson (Foreston, Minn./Milaca) knocked in back-to-back singles to score three. The Eagles would pull within two before the Oles put an end to the late run, securing the 8-6 win.
 
Erickson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in her collegiate debut and Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) added two hits as well. The Eagles recorded six hits to St. Olaf's nine.
 
Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) pitched the complete six innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out three.
 
Game Two: St. Olaf 9, Northwestern 1 (Five Innings)
The Eagles put together another strong start in game two as Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) singled to score Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) in the top of the first. Unfortunately, it would be UNW's only scoring play of the contest.
 
The Oles would put together nine runs on eight hits to put an early end to the night. Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) would record the only other hit for Northwestern in the contest.
 
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) started in the circle for the Eagles and allowed five earned runs.
 
Northwestern will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 29 when they travel to Rochester, Minn. to take on Blackburn College and Mount Mary University. Action at the Rochester dome will get underway at 2 p.m.
 
Follow UNW softball online all season long at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @unwsoftball.