ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern St. Paul Softball team scored a combined 24 runs between two games to sweep the Martin Luther College Knights on Thursday night. The Eagles bested the Knights 8-1 in the opening game before an offensive explosion powered a 16-1 win in game two.

Game One

Northwestern's offensive fireworks show started gradually in the first game. The Eagles scored no more than two runs in a single inning, but their consistent offense drove in a run in five of their six innings at the plate.

Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) led UNW at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. The senior drove in the first run of the game with an RBI triple in the first, then hit an RBI single up the middle in the second. Ronning capped off her impressive game at the plate with a double in the third that scored a pair for Northwestern.

Samantha Burkhart (Salix, Iowa/Westwood) earned the win in the circle for the Eagles in a complete-game performance. The sophomore struck out seven while allowing just a single run on the day.

Game Two

In game two, the steady Eagle offense erupted for 16 runs in just three innings. UNW scored three in the first, upped their game with five in the second, and then found a third gear in the third inning to score eight more.

Ronning again led Northwestern's offensive attack, once again going 3-for-4 with three hits, four RBI, and two runs scored. The senior sparked the UNW scoring spree in the first with an RBI single, and then followed with an RBI double in the second. In the third, Ronning drove in another two runs with a single to center. On the day, Ellie was 6-for-8 with two doubles and a triple, drove in eight runs, and scored four more herself.

Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) matched Ronning for the team lead with three hits in the game, driving in one and scoring two. Telma Roesler (Hastings, Minn./Crown College) drove in three runs for UNW, and had an RBI double in the second followed by an RBI triple in the third.

The Eagles were terrors on the basepaths as well as at the plate. Five different Eagles stole a base in the win, as Ronning, Hannasch, Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West), Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama), and Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) each swiped a bag.

Carlson pitched all five innings, striking out four while allowing just a single run on four hits for the win.

Up Next

Northwestern travels to take on UW-Superior on the road on Wednesday, March 7, in a doubleheader starting at 3:30pm.