ST. PAUL, Minn. - After 11 long days without University of Northwestern Softball, the team took the field for a single game against Crown College. Northwestern got off to a quick start with six runs in the opening inning and threatened a 5-inning run rule, but wanted the dramatic ending in the sixth inning, prevailing 14-4 with the help of a walk-off 3-RBI homer from
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock).
The opening six runs were scored rather quickly as the Eagles plated five of the six runs with two homers.
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) started the scoring after hitting a double before a pair of singles brought her home. With
Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) and
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) on base,
Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) launched a three-RBI home run well past the center field wall to clear the dugout in celebration. The homer marked the 3rd long ball of her season. The team went back in the dugout through three more batters before coming out to celebrate yet another homer. With
Trista Oberle (Hudson, Wis./Homeschool) on base, Keith snuck the ball over the wall in center field to up the score 6-0. Keith continues to add to her program record, now with 17 career dingers and four this season.
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian), in the circle for UNW, secured the first four outs of the game on her own before a double play ended the second inning, keeping the Polars scoreless. The Eagles entered the bottom of the inning back at the top of the order, and Schoper got to first on a walk, advanced to third on a sacrifice hit from Storey, and scored on a single from Edwards. Anderson was up next and clearly enjoyed hitting the ball far, as she sent the ball to the warning track, driving home Schoper.
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) also recorded an RBI with a single to right field, scoring Edwards and moving Anderson to third. Oberle's groundout brought Anderson the final 60 feet for the 9-0 lead.
The Schoper and Storey duo got the Eagles started in the third inning as well, as they both singled and advanced to second and third on a bobbled ball at the plate. Edwards then hit a two-RBI laser up the middle for the two runs of the inning. UNW threatened more damage on the scoreboard with two outs, but left runners on first and third to come out of the inning with an 11-run lead.
After three shutout innings, Crown put together two solid frames, scoring one run in the fourth and three in the fifth, while keeping UNW scoreless through both innings, to narrowly avoid the eight-run rule, going three and out in the home half of the fifth. Strubbe regained control, forcing three swinging strikeouts to bring out the Eagle offense. Oberle and
Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) made it on base to set the stage for an exciting finish. Keith called game and barrelled the ball deep over the fence for her second homerun of the game, walking it off with the final score of 14-4.
Despite not playing since March 20, the Eagles looked sharp at the plate with the first four batters going 10-15 with nine runs scored and seven RBI collectively. Anderson and Edwards led the charge with four and three RBI, respectively, each going 3-4. Schoper was 2-3 while Storey, Oberle, and Keith were 2-4. Oberle with one RBI and Keith with five on her two home runs. Strubbe was effective through all six innings, striking out 11 batters and only allowing four hits and three earned runs.
The Eagles will be back in action with a double header on Friday at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM at Reynolds Field for the conclusion of the series with the Polars.
