Duluth, Minn. –– The No. 3 seed University of Northwestern softball team (17-21) moved one win away from its third straight UMAC tournament title after a 2-1 extra-inning win over No. 5 seed UW-Superior (19-14). Northwestern advances to the championship game on Saturday at noon against one of No. 1 St. Scholastica, No. 2 Bethany Lutheran, or the aforementioned Yellow Jackets. The Eagles carry a nine-game conference tournament winning streak into the title game.

Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) drew her second consecutive start in the circle, and she worked her way out of a jam in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the frame, Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) drew a one-out walk, the first of eight Eagle walks, before promptly stealing second. The Yellow Jackets walked Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) on four pitches, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Telma Roesler (Hastings, Minn./Crown College) followed with an RBI groundout to drive in Schmidt to give the Eagles the early 1-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets put two more runners in scoring position in the second, but Carlson stranded them there. They cashed in in the fourth inning, though. A leadoff single, sacrifice bunt, and two errors on the same play tied up the score. Superior had runners on second and third with one-out, but Northwestern kept the score tied.

Both pitchers got into a groove in the middle innings. Northwestern's next chance came in the sixth when Carlson drew a four-pitch leadoff walk. Schmidt sacrificed her to second before the Yellow Jackets intentionally walked Ronning. They were able to escape without any damage, and then the game quickly moved into extra innings.

From the fifth to the eighth, Superior never put more than a runner on base. That changed in the top of the ninth when they recorded a leadoff double. She advanced to third on a two-out groundout before a hit batter and a stolen base put two more runners in scoring position. The next pitch after the stolen base was floated harmlessly to left, and Carlson finished up her day with nine innings in the circle, six strikeouts, and one unearned run. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) recorded a one-out walk, and she advanced to second on Kayla Hannasch's (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) single through the right side, the Eagles' first hit since Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) had a leadoff double in the third. Hailey Hansen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central Area) moved the winning run sixty feet away on a fielder's choice. Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) followed by smacking a single to right to bring home the winning run sending Northwestern to the championship game. In addition, the Eagles avoided an elimination game later on tonight against either Bethany Lutheran or St. Scholastica.

Boyce had two hits and the game-winning RBI. Ronning drew three walks, and Woodworth and Schmidt drew two.

Up Next

Northwestern advances to the championship game on Saturday against one of No. 1 St. Scholastica, No. 2 Bethany Lutheran, or No. 5 UW-Superior. First pitch is scheduled for noon. The team coming out of the loser's bracket will have to beat Northwestern twice to win the title.

Follow Northwestern softball online at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter or Instagram @unwsoftball.

Tournament Bracket

Thursday, May 13

Game 1: 10 am - #4 Northland College vs. #5 UW-Superior; UWS won 7-2

Game 2: 12 pm - #2 Bethany Lutheran College vs. #3 University of Northwestern; UNW won 5-2

Game 3: 4 pm - #1 College of St. Scholastica vs. #5 UW-Superior; UWS won 5-4 (F/8)

Game 4: 6 pm - #4 Northland College vs. #2 Bethany Lutheran College; BLC won 8-0 (F/5)

Friday, May 14

Game 5: 12 pm - #3 University of Northwestern vs. #5 UW-Superior; UNW won 2-1 (F/9)

Game 6: 2 pm - #1 College of St. Scholastica vs. #2 Bethany Lutheran College; BLC won 11-8

Game 7: 4 pm - #5 UW-Superior vs. #2 Bethany Lutheran College; play suspended with a 4-4 tie after seven innings. Play will resume at 10 am on Saturday to decide who faces Northwestern for the championship.

Saturday, May 15

Game 8: 12 pm - #3 University of Northwestern vs. Winner of Game 7

Game 9: 2 pm - If necessary game (if undefeated team entering game 8 would lose in game 8)