CLERMONT, FLA -- The University of Northwestern softball team continued Spring Games action on Tuesday at Minneola Athletic Complex. The Eagles fought to come back from a 3-0 deficit in game one, but came up short to fall in a 3-2 final with bases loaded. Nebraska Wesleyan put together a dominant 14-hit performance and two big innings to cruise to a five-inning run rule win in game two.
The Eagles move to 3-11 on the year as they take Wednesday off before wrapping up spring break play on Thursday. Northwestern will match-up with University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg and Roger Williams University in the final day of action.
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) led UNW with three hits on the day, going 3-for-7 with an RBI.
Washington College 3, Northwestern 2
Washington College was first to score, putting together three runs on three hits and one Northwestern error in the top of the third. Northwestern quickly earned one run back in the bottom half of the inning when
Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) got on base after getting hit by a pitch.
Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) advanced Stoll with a sacrifice bunt and
Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) got her to third with an infield ground out. It was
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) with a single up the middle who would score Stoll for UNW's first run of the day.
4.2 innings of solid pitching by
Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) held Washington College scoreless as UNW continued to battle. Northwestern would tack on another run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single from
Bridgette Kollos (Mapleton, Minn./Maple River), making it a one run game. In the bottom of the seventh and the game on the line, the Eagles would load the bases following back to back singles from
Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) and
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West). Unfortunately, Washington would quickly end the run. A hard hit lineout followed by a fly ball to right and a perfect throw home would send UNW home one run shy.
Samantha Burkhart (Salix, Iowa/Westwood) started in the circle and was relieved by
Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City). Boyce threw 4.2, allowing just one hit, no runs and striking out two.
Nebraska Wesleyan 14, Northwestern 1 (Five Innings)
Nebraksa Wesleyan quickly displayed their dominance after putting together eight runs and eight hits in the opening inning. The Prairie Wolves defeated no. 11 University of St. Thomas earlier this season and have won three straight in Spring Games play.
UNW suffered from just four hits in the contest to Nebraska Wesleyan's 14.
Faith Forcier (Watkins, Minn./Eden Vallley-Watkins) led Northwestern with two hits and a run, while
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and
Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) each added a hit for UNW.
The Eagles will be back at it on Thursday when they take on Pittsburgh-Greensburg at 9:15 a.m. (EST) at Hancock Field 4 in Clermont, FL.
Follow Northwestern softball all season long on
www.unweagles.com. All spring games will be available to follow on live stats
HERE. Keep up with the team on social at @unwsoftball on Twitter and Instagram.
