St. Paul, Minn. –– The University of Northwestern softball team (5-6) lost both ends of a doubleheader against Buena Vista University (15-5). They lost game one 11-3 and then game two 6-4.

Game One

Buena Vista jumped ahead to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on three doubles. Northwestern responded as Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) hit a one-out triple that landed just fair down the right-field line. Grace Bentley (Omaha, Neb./Wheaton College) followed with a walk before Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) had a two-out opposite-field single to left to bring home Lane.

The Eagles had runners on second and third in the bottom of the second but stranded both runners. The Beavers took advantage with five runs in the top of the third to make it 7-1 and four more in the seventh to make it 11-1.

Northwestern battled back in the bottom of the seventh as Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and Lane drew walks to start the frame. They both advanced on a wild pitch, and Grace Bentley (Omaha, Neb./Wheaton College) drove them in with a double to the left-center field gap. A fielder's choice and a double play ended any hopes of a continued comeback for the Eagles.

Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) pitched the first three innings and gave up seven earned runs. Diana Boyce (Phoenix, Ariz./Park City) came in for the final four innings and kept them off-balanced for her first three frames before the Beavers scored four times in the seventh.

Northwestern had seven hits as Iverson had two, while Lane and Bentley both had a hit and drew a walk.

Game Two

Buena Vista hit their first solo home run of the contest in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead. Northwestern took advantage of three Beaver errors in the bottom of the second to score three runs. Briggs Carlson (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) both reached on errors before Grace Bentley (Omaha, Neb./Wheaton College) brought them both in with a double. Telma Roesler (Hastings, Minn./Crown College) followed with a base hit to make it 3-1.

The Beavers immediately tied it on back-to-back solo home runs to lead off the top of the fourth. Northwestern had the bases loaded with only one out in the bottom of the fifth with Hannah Woodworth (Panora, Iowa/Panorama) at the dish. The junior hit a rocket right at the third baseman, who tagged out Roesler to end the threat. 

The Eagles capitalized in the sixth, though. Chloe Kimmes (New Trier, Minn./Randolph) reached on a single and advanced to second on an error. Lane brought her in with a sharp two-out single up the middle to give the Eagles the 4-3 lead. The Beavers tied it on a single, stolen base, and error before taking the 6-4 lead on a suicide squeeze and a single to left.

Northwestern once again fought back in the bottom of the seventh, as Roesler led off with a single. Megan Lundt (Frisco, Texas/Central Methodist) hit a single that fell just fair down the left-field line before the two moved into scoring position on a wild pitch with one out. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the contest.

Emma Heffron (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) pitched all seven innings and gave up four earned runs. Bentley, Roesler, and Lundt all had two hits.

Up Next

The Eagles continue their homestand as they have a doubleheader against Augsburg College on Thursday, March 24th. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 4:00 pm.