ST. PAUL, Minn. - After a tight loss on Friday, the University of Northwestern's Softball team rallied for the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday. UNW took the lead and stifled UWS throughout all but one inning to finish with the 4-2 win. After celebrating UNW's nine seniors between games, the Yellowjackets scored first in game two and continued to a 5-2 win to take the series. However, with the win, Northwestern has officially secured a spot in the UMAC Postseason Tournament in two weeks.
GAME 1:
In a game where runs were rare, both teams remained deadlocked at zero until the bottom of the fourth inning. Leading up to the opening run, in the first inning, Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) struck out the first and fourth batters to keep a runner stuck on second base. UNW also threatened to score with Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) on second and Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) on third, but the Eagles couldn't capitalize as they moved back into the field. The second inning showcased these two top teams' defense as both squads went three and out. The third inning held much of the same, as no runners made it past second base.
Finally, in the bottom of the fourth, the birthday girl, Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson), clubbed a double into left field to score Reganne Henning (Beatrice, Neb./Beatrice), who was pinch running for Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo). After the first run crossed the plate, Northwestern found a groove and scored in the next two innings. Following Anderson's double, Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) launched a lead-off double of her own, and the third of this series. Beer did not stay on second for long, thanks to freshman Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello). With a 2-2 count, Storey crushed the ball over the center field wall for the first time in an Eagles uniform, making her first collegiate home run one to remember as she upped the score to 3-0.
Entering the 6th inning with the three-run lead, Northwestern allowed the talented Superior team to grab two runs in the inning to keep the Eagles within reach. The bottom of the inning consisted of the final run of the game, which started with a single from Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine), who was replaced on first by Allison Terry (Blaine, Minn./Blaine). It ended with another big-time double from Kate Beer (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) to score Terry. One inning away from spoiling the Yellowjackets' perfect conference record, UNW took no chances and only needed six pitches to find all three out and secure the 4-2 win.
Strubbe had an impressive performance in the circle as number seven threw seven strikeouts through seven innings, and surrendered seven hits. Strubbe is now 12-3 on the season and tied for second in the conference for wins. At the plate, Beer and Schoper led the way, going 2-3. Beer also scored with one RBI and two doubles. Storey tallied two RBI thanks to her home run, and Anderson brought a runner home with her double.
Game 2:
Before the start of the second game, the nine seniors were recognized for their time on the field as Eagles. Several younger players spoke on the impact each senior had. Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall), Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian), Henning, Terry, Briar Armatoski (Amherst, Wis./Pacelli Catholic), Beer, Maddie Bottineau (Andover, Minn./Andover), Emma Heffron (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian), and Jadyn Iverson (West Fargo, N.D./West Fargo) were honored for the way they have demonstrated UNW's motto of "Compete With Purpose." After a beautiful senior ceremony, the game got underway.
Bottineau started in the circle and struck out two batters in the first frame. UNW also went scoreless in the first inning, going three and out. UW-Superior found the first run in the top of the 2nd, but Bottineau fielded and delivered the final out to limit the Yellowjackets to only one run. With two outs in the home half of the inning, Anderson, Trump, and Beer loaded the bases. All three stayed on base for the second scoreless inning of the game for the Eagles. A single shot home run for Superior opened the top of the 3rd inning and gave them a 2-0 advantage.
A lead-off double in the bottom of the third had Sydney Lane (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) flexing toward the dugout from second base. Lane then barrel rolled home on a laser hit by Schoper. In the 4th inning, Superior tacked on two runs before Strubbe made her second appearance of the day in the circle. UNW and Strubbe found the final two outs, flipping the field for another three-up-three-down inning. In the 5th, Northwestern was efficient and found three outs through four batters. At the plate, UNW battled, as Storey and Gee made it to first. Once again, their efforts were thwarted by the Yellowjackets' defense.
In the bottom of the 6th, Edwards started to chip away at the 3-run deficit as she bombed a single-shot over the back wall. UWS responded with a homer of their own to close out the game and take the victory 5-2.
Lane, Gee, Schoper, Edwards, and Beer each notched one hit as Schoper and Edwards brought home the two runs of the game. Bottineau and Strubbe both had two strikeouts in their three innings pitched, while also only allowing one earned run.
The Eagles will conclude their regular season next weekend on May 2nd and 3rd in St. Bonfacius, as they take on the Crown Polars.
