WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The University of Northwestern's Softball team wrapped up their two final varsity games in Florida on Thursday morning with another sweep, their 6th in a row. Since coming to Florida, UNW has won nine games, outscoring their opponents 88-20. In the last five games, they have scored 50 runs and allowed zero. Starting off against Albertus Magnus, UNW won 8-0 in six innings, and then beat Hood College 9-0 in five innings.
GAME 1: Albertus Magnus College Falcons
Heading up the defensive effort, the Eagles' pitcher, Emma Heffron (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian), pitched all six innings and didn't give up a hit until the top of the 5th. She threw seven strikeouts and only one walk. She was backed up by a solid defense where Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) notched four putouts, while Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) tallied three putouts with two assists, and Riley Summers (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) caught two fly outs.
Rallying the offensive end was Iverson and Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) with two RBI each. Trump earned her RBI thanks to a no-doubt, two-run homer to center field. This was her second home run of the week and the second of her career. Trump's home run brought Iverson in after a double put her on base. Iverson's second double of the game came in the 6th inning, which brought Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) home to put UNW up eight, and end the game.
Opening the 1st inning with a run, Gee walked to first, but stole the remaining bases. After her station work in the first frame, Gee scored again in the 3rd inning after Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) advanced her to second and Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) drove her home with a single to right field. With Storey on third, Schoper stole second and distracted the defense long enough for Storey to make it home, beating the throw. Amidst the chaos, Iverson ripped a single up the middle and scored Schoper. As the Falcons tried to tag Schoper at home, Iverson pressed on to second base. By the end of the 3rd inning, the Eagles led 4-0.
Wanting to increase the lead, Allison Terry (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) bunted to get on base and stole second during Gee's at-bat. Terry made it to third with the help of Gee's hit to the second baseman. Then after a single from Storey, Terry stepped on home before the close of the inning.
In the 5th and 6th innings, Trump hit her home run, scoring Iverson and herself, and Iverson hit a double which scored Storey and their 8th run of the game.
Notably, Iverson went 3-4 from the plate, while Storey and Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) went 1-2. Terry and Schoper each went 1-3 with one stolen base. Gee also was 1-3 from the plate with two stolen bases.
GAME 2: Hood College Blazers
Hopping to a quick four-run lead in the first inning against Hood College, UNW kept their foot on the gas and ended the game in five innings, beating the Blazers 9-0.
Effectively, the first four batters of the Eagles' lineup singled, earning the 1-0 lead. After one out, Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) singled to right field and recorded an RBI as Storey crossed home. Lane and Trump forced a fielder's choice on the next two hits, allowing them to get on base and both Schoper and Iverson to score.
After Storey walked and Schoper doubled to center field in the 2nd inning, Iverson drove them home for two more runs with a hard hit single up the 6-4 gap. In the 3rd inning, the Eagles added two more runs to go up 8-0. Lane was on second after hitting a double to center field, and was batted in by a single from Gee. Gee stole second and made it home on an RBI by Storey. Iverson scored the final run of the game in the fourth inning after she hit a single, then ran to third thanks to a double from Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine). Lane delivered the hit that allowed Iverson to make it home.
The Blazers had a hard time at the plate as they faced Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) in the circle for all five innings. Strubbe pitched a solid game for UNW as she faced 17 batters and only gave up one hit. She finished with three strikeouts and one walk on the afternoon. The Eagles' batting performance was impressive as both Iverson and Storey batted perfect games going 3-3 and 2-2, respectively. Gee and Schoper both went 2-3. Also for the Eagles, Ella Priola (Monticello, Minn./Monticello) hit a line drive in the 5th inning and beat the throw to first to record her first collegiate hit.
The UNW JV team will play two games tomorrow, Friday, March 14, to close out the Florida Spring Break Trip. Once home in Minnesota, the Eagles will play their home opener against St. Olaf College on March 18. The first game will begin at 3:30 PM.
