Duluth, Minn. –– The University of Northwestern softball team (17-23) fell twice on Saturday in the UMAC Championship games to the University of Wisconsin-Superior (22-14). The Yellowjackets needed to beat the Eagles twice to win the title, and they were able to do just that. They won game one 5-2 and game two 4-0.
Game One
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) got her third consecutive start in the circle for the Eagles. She worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, thanks to a called strike three to end the threat. Northwestern took advantage in the bottom half of the frame as Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) reached with two outs on an error and advanced to second on the play. Telma Roesler (Hastings, Minn./Crown College) followed with a hard line drive to right-center, and Northwestern was on the board first.
The Yellowjackets cashed in in the third, though. They scored three runs in the inning to take the 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Shelby Stoll (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) led off with a triple as she slid just under the tag. Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) followed with an RBI groundout, and Northwestern cut the lead in half.
Superior added key insurance runs in both the sixth and seventh to extend the lead to three runs. In the bottom of the seventh, Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) reached base on an error to lead off the frame, but Northwestern could not take advantage of the miscue.
The Eagles only had three hits in the game as Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland), Roesler, and Stoll each had one. Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) threw seven innings and struck out four while allowing the five runs.
Game Two
Northwestern looked to bounce back in the winner-take-all game two. Superior kept their momentum, as they got the first run of the contest in the third thanks to two Eagle errors. The Eagles put together a threat in the bottom of the third, as Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) and Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) recorded one-out singles. Superior was able to work out of the jam and preserved the one-run lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Yellowjackets added on three runs thanks to some timely hitting and some more fielding miscues by the Eagles. Northwestern again had runners on first and second in the fifth but failed to cut into the deficit.
The Eagles looked for a momentum swing on defense and got a massive double play to keep the score 4-0. Superior had a runner on second with one-out when they smacked a single back up the middle. Kayla Hannasch (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) threw out the runner at the plate, and after applying the tag, Telma Roesler (Hastings, Minn./Crown College) threw out the hitter attempting to advance to second. Superior retired the final seven Eagle hitters to clinch the title.
Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) made her first pitching appearance of the tournament as she got the start in the circle. She threw 5.1 innings and struck out four while giving up two earned runs. Samantha Burkhart (Salix, Iowa/Westwood) pitched the final 1.2 innings.
Carlson had two hits, while Ronning, Woodworth, and Boyce contributed one.
The losses wrap up the 2021 season for the Eagles. It was a very memorable season as the young team put together another run in the conference tournament that unfortunately fell just short. Ellie Ronning (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria Area) set a variety of single-season records, including average at .542, hits at 64, total bases at 98, and on-base percentage at .609. She is second in RBIs with 45 (the record is 46), second in doubles at 19, third in slugging percentage at .831, and third in triples with six. For her career, she finishes first with 51 doubles, second for total bases at 282, fourth with 184 hits, fourth for home runs at 9, fourth in slugging percentage at .639, and seventh with a .417 average. She wrapped up her illustrious career with one of the best seasons in school history.
Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) hit .400 as she played in every game and led the team with a 4.03 ERA and 9-8 record in the circle over her 116.1 innings. Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) hit .333 with a .461 on-base percentage. Telma Roesler (Hastings, Minn./Crown College) and Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) were the two Eagles to start in all 40 games that the team played. Roesler hit .331 while transitioning to catcher midway through the season and helped anchor the team's defense while batting cleanup.
Looking forward to next year, Northwestern will have to find a way to replace the production the three seniors generated. Still, the team is bringing back a lot of production and will bring in high expectations after another deep UMAC tournament run.
Follow Northwestern softball online at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram @unwsoftball.
