ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Softball Team opened conference play in dominant fashion, sweeping North Central Univeristy in their home opener with a pair of run-rule shutouts, 8-0 and 19-0.
GAME ONE:
The Eagles wasted no time in setting the tone, retiring the first three batters before striking early in the bottom of the first. Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) drew a walk and quickly disrupted the defense by stealing second. Moments later, Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) launched a double to bring Schoper home, then came around to score herself to give UNW a 2-0 lead.
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) sparked the second inning with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Schoper added her first RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly to right field, extending the lead to 3-0.
The third inning was the inning for home runs. Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) battled to a two-strike count before blasting a home run over the center field wall for her second of the season. After Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) drew a walk, Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) launched a first-pitch, two-run homer, adding to her program record and pushing the lead even further.
After being held scoreless in the fourth, the Eagles closed things out in the fifth. Van Ess worked a walk, and Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) followed with a single through the left side. Trista Oberle (Hudson, Wis./Homeschool) delivered a clutch double to bring in one run, and Schoper capped the game with an RBI single to secure the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) was dominant in the circle, allowing just one hit and striking out eight over four innings. Addisyn Hansen (Tea, S.D./Tea Area) entered in the fifth with two runners on and calmly shut the door, recording the final three outs without allowing a run.
At the plate, Schoper led the way, going 2-3 with two RBI. Oberle was perfect at 2-2, while Storey added an RBI in her lone at-bat. Keith drove in two runs, and Anderson added one.
GAME TWO:
The Eagles carried their momentum into game two, erupting for a 19-0 victory behind an explosive offensive performance.
In the opening two innings, Edwards entered the batter's box with Schoper and Storey on base. In both at-bats, Edwards went yard for two 3-RBI home runs. Between the homers, Keith scored on a wild pitch, and Storey collected two RBI of her own. Going through the batting order again, Van Ess and Trump were in scoring position for Keith's double to score both. The final 3 runs in the 11-run inning were scored with the help of a double from Schoper and a single from Storey, as the Eagles piled on an 11-run frame.
UNW continued to roll in the third, as Anderson, Trump, and Keith all scored in succession to extend the lead to 17-0. With heavy substitutions in the fourth, the Eagles still managed to tack on two more runs, highlighted by a 2-RBI single from Alayna Spiess (Nowthen, Minn./Pact Charter School).
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony) got her second career start and her second career shutout in the circle. The reigning UMAC Pitcher of the Week only allowed four hits, striking out five and walking just two.
Offensively, Edwards led the charge, going 2-3 with six RBI. Storey and Oberle were both perfect at the plate, with Storey driving in four runs. Schoper, Lexi Gonzalez (Oswego, Ill./Oswego East), Abby Washburn (Prosper, Tex./Homeschool), Maddy Smith (Sartell, Minn./Sartell), and Spiess each added a hit, with Spiess recording two RBI.
The Eagles will continue conference play next weekend at UW-Superior. The series begins with a single game on March 27 at 4:00 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on March 28 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
