MANKATO, Minn. - The first round of the UMAC Softball Tournament started on Thursday afternoon as the University of Northwestern Softball team took on the University of Wisconsin-Superior. In a tight battle that went into extra innings, the Eagles fell 3-4 and will look to avoid elimination in tomorrow's game.

The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead after two scoreless innings. Their first run came with the help of an early error from the Yellowjacket defense in the third inning. Mikayla Gee (Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) was the runner who scored the opening run as she got on base with a single and advanced to second on Lani Schoper's (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) hit. Emma Edwards' (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) hit allowed Gee to run home with a throwing error, giving her enough time to run home. The Eagles then loaded the bases, but with a final out, Northwestern only tallied the one run.

UW-Superior evened things up in the bottom of the 3rd, then took a one-run lead thanks to some two-out hits from the players in the opposing dugout. Tying the score at 2 apiece in the top of the 4th, Allison Terry (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) crossed home plate after a bunt, a stolen base, and two more bases run on two sacrifice hits. Once again, the Jackets responded to take the one-run lead, heading into the late innings.

Things looked bleak for the Eagles, but then Trump stepped up and hit a mammoth blast to centerfield, tying the game at three. After securing six more outs, the game headed to an extra inning. With two outs and a runner on 3rd, the Jackets were able to plate their runner and walk off the Eagles in exciting fashion.

Schoper led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-4 with a stolen base. Riley Summers (Fontana, Wis./Big Foot) and Trump each tallied 1 RBI. Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) started in the circle for the Eagles and pitched 3 complete innings, surrendering 5 hits and 2 earned runs. Emma Heffron (Altoona, Iowa/Grand View Christian) took over in the bottom of the 4th inning and allowed only one hit and no earned runs. 

The Eagles will play Friday at 1:30 PM against the University of Minnesota Morris. Tune in to unweagles.com for updates throughout the UMAC Softball Tournament.