SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Northwestern Softball team opened its busy week with a doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets for the UMAC Series of the Week on Wednesday. UNW took the first game 4-1, breaking through in the fourth inning, riding the arm of
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) in the circle. The Yellowjackets fought back in the second game, winning 5-4 to end UNW's undefeated streak in conference play.
GAME ONE:
The series lived up to the hype, as both teams remained deadlocked at zero in a pitchers' battle through the opening three frames. Strubbe, in the circle for the Ealges, held complete control of the game, striking out six batters in the first three innings.
Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) recorded the only hit before the top of the fourth.
Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) got UNW started in the visitor half of the fourth as she made it to first with the help of an error. She quickly moved to second and eventually scored on back-to-back singles from Anderson and
Trista Oberle (Hudson, Wis./Homeschool). Anderson and Oberle then ran home on a double from
Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) to go up 3-0.
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) hit a double to open the fifth inning and advanced to third on an overthrown ball. She then came the final 60 feet on another double that was hit by
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine).
Strubbe and the Northwestern defense continued to control the game, as UW-Superior remained hitless until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Yellowjackets capitalized on their lone hit, scoring one run in the inning to finish game one 4-1.
Oberle went 2-2 at the plate with one RBI, while Anderson was 3-2, recording the first two hits of the game. Trump and Edwards were each 1-3, with two RBI and one RBI, respectively. Strubbe was nearly perfect, striking out 12 over seven innings. She only allowed two hits and one run, while walking just two.
GAME TWO:
Both teams were scoreless through the first two and a half innings. In the opening innings, the Eagles left runners on base, unable to convert them to runs on the scoreboard. The Yellowjackets struck first in the bottom of the third, scoring twice.
Undeterred by the two-run deficit, Anderson and Oberle got on base in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs,
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) ripped an RBI single, followed by another RBI single from
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) to even the score at two.
Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) followed suit and hit a ball to the gap to score Keith and take the lead. For the fourth hit in a row, Schoper sent a double to extend the Eagles' lead to two and score the fourth run of the inning.
The Yellowjackets were unwilling to give up the lead, as they scored three runs on a home run to go up 5-4. Continuing the exciting nature of the game, the Eagles loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth with two walks and a bunt. UWS found three consecutive outs to cling to the one-run lead heading into the home half of the inning.
The Yellowjackets responded by having a runner make it to third, but
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony), who entered the circle as relief, and the UNW defense stopped the attack to turn the inning. The Eagles couldn't find another run in the sixth to end the game 4-5.
Oberle delivered another impressive performance, going 3-4 at the plate. Schoper was 2-4 with one RBI, and Keith, Van Ess, and Lexvold were 1-3 with one RBI each.
Addisyn Hansen (Tea, S.D./Tea Area) pitched the opening four innings, striking out five batters and allowing five earned runs. Morrissey finished the game, surrendering one hit and one walk.
The Eagles will return to the NBC Spartan Sports Complex tomorrow for the single game with Superior at 11:00 AM (originally set for noon, but moved up to avoid the forecasted rain). UNW will then play their series against Martin Luther in New Ulm on Friday and Saturday.
