EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - The University of Northwestern Softball team traveled over to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to take on the Blugolds in the Sonnentag Fieldhouse. In the double header, the Eagles dropped the first game in a back and forth battle, losing 4-7. In the second game UNW scored the opening two runs and held on to the 2-1 lead to break the Blugolds' 13 game win streak.
GAME 1:
Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) opened the scoring for UNW after a walk, steal, and score in the top of the first inning. Northwestern left one runner on base as Eau Claire answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
In the second inning, Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) walked, then was brought home thanks to a home run off the bat of Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy). This was Trump's third bomb of the season. To close the inning, the Blugolds scored once more to settle their lead more comfortably at two.
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) doubled at the top of the 3rd, and Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) snuck a single through the 5-6 hole to move Schoper to third. Pinch running for Iverson, Reganne Henning (Beatrice, Neb./Beatrice) stole second before a big hit from Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian). The senior from Altoona, Iowa, forced a fielder's choice and made it safely to first, while Schoper beat the tag at home to score the Eagles' fourth run of the game. Lane stole second, but was stranded along with Henning as Eau Claire found their third out.
The Blugolds, in the bottom of the 3rd inning, and the Eagles, in the top of the 4th inning, threatened to score, but solid defense by both squads held the runners on second and third. As the Blugolds came up to bat in the bottom of the fourth, they found two security runs as a pinch hitter delivered an important two RBI single to move the score to 7-4 for Eau Claire.
Lane made the final base-running contact of the game as she rocketed a double that hopped the fence. She was left on base as the Blugolds' pitcher threw a strikeout to end the inning. In the bottom of the 5th, Emma Heffron (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) was relieved in the circle by Maddie Bottineau (Andover, Minn./Andover), who walked the first batter before finding her grove and finishing out the inning.
After 11 runs and several scoring opportunities in the first five innings, the last inning and a half showed lock-down defense by both teams as they each went three up and three out to end the game with a score of 4-7.
Scoring four runs, the Eagles only found six hits as they went 6-27 overall. Schoper led Northwestern, going 2-4 with one RBI and two doubles. Trump's no-doubt home run tallied two RBI, while Gee converted three stolen bases. Heffron started in the circle for UNW and struck out three batters. She gave up seven earned runs and walked three batters. Bottineau pitched the final two innings and only walked one batter as she delivered a no-hitter to close the game.
GAME 2:
In the second game, the Eagles switched up their lineup to give the Blugolds a different look at the plate. Their strategy paid off as UNW won 2-1.
Similar to the first game, Gee started the game with a walk and steal, before a double to the right side by Lane pushed her to third. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) bounced a single just above the glove of the pitcher to drive Gee home. The pitcher then overthrew the first basemen in an attempt to throw Edwards out, which allowed Lane to also make it home. Unlike the game prior, the Eagles defense held the Blugolds scoreless to end the first.
Starting the 2nd inning, the Eagles did not let up as Anderson and Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) opened the inning with singles. Gee sacrifice bunted to move the runners up, but Eau Claire stalled Anderson and Beer with the third out of the inning to avoid a larger deficit. The Blugolds scored one run of their own before the close of the 2nd.
Threatening once again in the third inning, Edwards and Storey were in scoring position, but for the second inning in a row UNW left those runners stranded. The fourth inning had UNW go 1, 2, 3 at the plate, and riding that momentum Eau Claire found a hole to get on base. The Eagles responded and found three outs to maintain the 2-1 lead.
In the top of the 7th with two outs and two strikes, Lane smashed a triple to the gap between the center fielder and right fielder. As was the story of the game, Lane was left on base after an impressive diving catch from the second baseman kept the score at 2-1. UNW dug in for the final bottom inning and retired all three batters to secure the win.
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) boosted the Eagles to snap the Blugolds' 13 game win streak. The sophomore led the team, going 2-3 from the plate while delivering the hit that brought the two runs of the game, home. Lane also gave UNW some juice as she went 2-4 with a triple and a double. Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) notched her eighth win from the circle for Northwestern. In a full seven innings, she only allowed five hits with one strikeout, no walks, and no earned runs.
UNW will be back at home for a double header against conference opponent Minnesota Morris on Thursday afternoon. The first game is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM at Reynolds Field.
