BARTOW, Fla. - After an early weather delay, the University of Northwestern Softball team got underway against Beloit College and Carroll University on a windy and cloudy afternoon. UNW tallied another sweep as they won 7-4 and 8-0 halfway through their Florida trip.
Game 1 - Beloit College Buccaneers
In game one the Eagles struck first on their way to a 7-4 win against the Buccaneers.
With a strong start from Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian), two of the first three outs came from a swinging strikeout. As soon as UNW transitioned to offense, it only took them five batters to bring in the opening run. Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) led off and was walked to get on base. She stole second as Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) singled to move Gee to third. Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) made it on base as she was thrown four balls. With the bases loaded, Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) forced a fielding error to bring Gee home and advance the runners on base. With two outs, Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) was also walked to notch an RBI and a 2-0 lead.
Beloit answered with a run of their own in the 2nd inning after a triple and sacrifice fly. The Buccaneers then leveled the score after rounding the bases on errors in the third inning. Northwestern closed the top of the inning with another strikeout by Stubbe, then responded with three runs of their own. The Eagles got started from a single by Lane that snuck through the left side. A walk for Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) and a sacrifice bunt by Beer put Lane only 60 feet from home, which she quickly crossed on a passed ball. Trump advanced to third on the error and was then brought home by a sacrifice fly from Riley Summers (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot). The final run came from the speed of Allison Terry (Blaine, Minn./Blaine). Terry made it to first with a bunt, then proceeded to steal second and third before a single from Gee brought her across home plate.
A three and out ended the 4th inning for BC and put the Eagles back on offense. Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) was hit by a pitch before stealing second and advancing to third on a fielders choice. Another single from Lane allowed Schoper to increase the score to 6-2.
UNW stranded two Beloit runners in the top of the fifth and tallied their final run in the bottom of the inning. For the second time, Terry made it on base and stole her way to third before Gee singled to bring her home again.
In the final inning, the Buccaneers threatened the Eagles' advantage with a home run and an unearned run before the third out, giving Northwestern the 7-4 victory in their first game of the day.
Gee and Lane led the RBI category with two each, while Lane also had eight putouts and 2 assists. Continuing her efficiency at the plate, Gee went 2-3, making her 13-16 throughout her time in Florida. Storey, also continuing her impressive rookie season, went 2-3 in her at-bats and tallied 4 putouts from left field.
Game 2 - Carroll University Pioneers
Under the lights, Northwestern took on the Pioneers for the 6th game of the trip. Northwestern took the lead in the 1st inning and didn't look back until the game ended in the 5th inning with the 8-0 Eagles victory.
Leading off, Terry continued her method of rounding the bases. She walked to first then stole second. Instead of stealing third like she did in the last game, Gee hit a screaming line drive up the middle for a 2 RBI in-the-park home run. Her hit was a perfect combination of pace and location mixed with the speed of Gee and Terry's base-running to kick-start the 2-0 lead.
The odd innings proved to be the secret for scoring runs for the Eagles as they went three up, three down in both the 2nd and 4th innings. In the 3rd inning, Northwestern pulled away by adding four more runs. Beer set the tone with a single to get on base, then Terry pushed Beer to second after being walked again. Next, a bunt from Gee loaded the bases before a single from Storey brought home half of the runs of the inning. With Storey and Gee on base, Schoper bunted to advance the runners. After two outs, freshman Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) hit a double to center field to bring Storey and Schoper home, making the score 6-0.
Three singles started the top of the 5th inning for Northwestern. Schoper, Storey, and Gee advanced to first, third and home thanks to a throwing error after the single by Schoper. Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) brought Storey home to qualify UNW for their third mercy rule of the season. The Eagles completed the run rule after three ground outs to Maddie Bottineau (Andover, Minn./Andover) in the pitcher's circle, Schoper, and Gee.
Bottineau led Northwestern to victory with a shutout, three strikeouts, and only three hits. Gee, Storey, and Anderson led the team with 2 RBI apiece going 3-3, 2-3, and 1-3, respectively. The Eagles scored their 46th run in six games since leaving the cold Minnesota weather, and look to continue their hot offensive streak tomorrow against Thomas College and Suffolk University at 9:00 AM CST and 11:15 AM CST.
