CLERMONT, FLA --  The University of Northwestern softball team opened up action at the 2020 Spring Games on Thursday at Legends Way Ballpark. The Eagles faced a pair of solid teams in the Florida opener, falling to Illinois College 11-2 and Wartburg College 9-0 in the 87 degree sunshine. 
 
The Eagles move to 2-4 on the year, but will have plenty of opportunities to bounce back. UNW will compete in 10 more Spring Games match-ups from March 6-12.
 
Freshman Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) put together a dominant performance at the plate, going 5-for-6 with a double to average .833 on the day.
 
Illinois College 11, Northwestern 2 (6 innings)
Illinois College put together a 2-0 lead before the Eagles would score on an RBI ground out by Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area). The Lady Blue would tack on two more runs in the third, but again UNW would chip away at the deficit. In the bottom of the third, Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) connected on an RBI, sacrifice fly to score Kendra Hardy (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area).
 
Unfortunately, that would mark the Eagles final scoring play. Illinois College put together 12 hits, but capitalized off of an unprecedented five Northwestern fielding errors. The Eagles finished with five hits led by Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) with three. Hannasch and Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) tacked on one apiece.
 
Lexi Kopacek (Willmar, Minn./Willmar) put together a strong outing in the circle, despite the outcome. The junior threw six innings, striking out three and allowing five earned runs.
 
Wartburg 9, Northwestern 0 (5 innings)
The Eagles are no stranger to Wartburg, who earned a no. 21 spot on the NFCA Coaches poll, released March 1. They last met up with the Knights in the 2019 NCAA Regional at St. Thomas.
 
Today's meeting would feature another close contest, despite two big offensive innings from the Knights. Wartburg would put four runs on the board in the second and three more in the third to run away with the win. They put together eight hits to UNW's three and benefitted from two more Eagle errors.
 
Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) started in the circle for Northwestern, throwing two innings. Boyce struck out two and allowed two earned runs. Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) added two innings of relief, allowing four hits and striking out one.
 
Northwestern will be back at it tomorrow when they take on Fontbonne a 10 a.m. at Hancock Park. The Eagles will also meet up with Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) for Friday's second outing.
 
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.