CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Northwestern Softball Team set the table for the second day of games in Florida, taking on the Hawks from Roger Williams and the Judges from Brandeis. In a much tighter game than yesterday, UNW won 4-1 against RWU, before falling 1-8 against Brandeis.
GAME 1 VS ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY HAWKS
The first three innings were extremely defensive, with neither team making it past second base. The Eagles were the first team to make it to third and eventually score the opening run of the game in the bottom of the fourth.
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) led off with a single before
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) worked a walk. She was substituted at first by
Kacey Boschetti (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area). The bases moved with a hit from
Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area), on which Edwards was tagged at third before the throw to first, but it opened the door for Boschetti to snag third. A passed ball was the gap UNW needed for Boschetti to slide home.
The Hawks evened the score in the top of the fifth, but were met with more Northwestern offense in the bottom of the frame.
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) got the Eagles started with a double, and
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) watched four balls to get to first, setting the stage for back-to-back singles from Edwards and Lexvold. Both Schoper and Van Ess scored for the 3-1 advantage.
The final run of the game started with a single from
Jenna Nusbaum (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park), who pinch-hit for
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony). Morrissey re-entered to run the bases and advanced to second with the help of a wild pitch. A walk mixed with another wild pitch allowed Morrissey to steal third. She then came home on a single from Van Ess.
The final out of the game secured the win for the Eagles, and the pitching win for
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian), marking her 40th career win from the circle and the most ever from a UNW pitcher. Strubbe tied the record in her win yesterday and owns the record outright after today!
Edwards was 3-3 at the plate with one RBI. Van Ess and Anderson each went 1-3 with one RBI. Strubbe pitched all seven innings and struck out six batters, allowing just one earned run and five hits.
GAME 2 VS BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY JUDGES
The Eagles got off to a slow start and were down six after the opening frame. The Judges then held Northwestern scoreless until the third inning.
Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello), the run scorer, got on base with a single and stole second on the first pitch of Schoper's at-bat. Schoper then hit a line-drive forcing the defense to choose where to throw. Fortunately for UNW, Storey and Schoper are extremely quick, and both made it safely to the corners. Schoper then also stole second. Two Eagles were then walked, scoring Storey. Despite loaded bases, UNW couldn't convert additional runs.
Morrissey relieved
Addisyn Hansen (Tea, S.D./Tea Area) in the second inning and delivered three solid innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while retiring three. Strubbe entered the circle for the final two innings, also allowing three hits and one earned run. The Eagle offense was less effective at the plate, with
Emma Westrate (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek) and Storey recording the only two hits for the team.
Now 5-5 on the season, UNW will play six more games in Florida beginning on Tuesday at 9:00 AM ET against Midwest opponent, Buena Vista, followed by game two against North Park University at 11:15 AM ET.
