ROCHESTER, Minn. – The University of Northwestern softball team continued 2020 action on Saturday at the Rochester Dome when they matched up with a pair of nonconference opponents, Blackburn College and Mount Mary University. The Eagles bats were hot as they put together 23 hits to their opponents' six, helping them to a 9-0 win over Blackburn and a five-inning, 8-0 win against Mount Mary.
 
Northwestern evens out their record at 2-2 overall as they prepare for the Spring Games, set for March 5-12 in Clermont, Fla. Live stats will be available for all 10 games of spring break action at www.unweagles.com.
 
Game One: Northwestern 9, Blackburn 0
The Eagles came ready to play on Saturday, scoring three runs on three hits in the top of the first. Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) sparked the offensive run with an RBI single up the middle. After three scoreless innings of play, the Eagles would tack on six more runs in the final three innings to cruise to the dominant 9-0 win.
 
Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo), Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) and Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) each put together two-hit games, while Stoll and Rachel Linebaugh (Golden Valley, Minn./Grace Academy) led UNW with two RBI's apiece.
 
Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) started in the circle for the Eagles, pitching the complete game shutout. She allowed just four hits, struck out five and walked two.
 
Northwestern put together 11 hits in the win and stole five bases.
 
Game Two: Northwestern 8, Mount Mary 0 (5 Innings)
UNW was back at it in game two, this time putting together 12 hits in a dominant, five-inning win. UNW scored once in the third on a sacrifice fly by Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) to get the offense moving. After that, it was smooth sailing in fourth inning action.
 
The Eagles put together seven runs in the bottom of the fourth on seven hits and one Mount Mary error. Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) led off the inning after being hit by a pitch. She stole second and was driven in by Cherramae Erickson (Foreston, Minn./Milaca). Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo), Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland), Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area), and a second appearance by Forcier and Erickson all recorded RBIs in the monstrous inning.
 
Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) made her first appearance in the circle for UNW, throwing five complete innings and allowing just two hits.
 
Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) and Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) each recorded four hits on the day, while Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) went an impressive 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk.  
 
Northwestern will return to action on Thursday, March 5 when they begin action at the Spring Games. First pitch against Illinois College is slated for 2:30 p.m. (EST).
 
Follow UNW softball online all season long at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @unwsoftball.