NEW ULM, Minn. - The University of Northwestern Softball team was firing on all cylinders on Friday afternoon. Going 21-for-39 (54%) at the plate, the Eagles pulled together for a team win, with three home runs, and finished 9-0.
Northwestern scored one run in both the first and second innings. In the first inning,
Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson), in the number two spot, launched a one-RBI home run to get the Eagles started. In the second inning,
Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) hit a double and then scored on a double by
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West), putting the team up 2-0.
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) led off with a single in the top of the fourth and advanced on a hit from Lexvold. Schoper then followed with a single and stole second in preparation for the hot bat of Anderson. The sophomore continued her successful day at the plate with a double to score Van Ess.
With the 4-0 lead going into the 5th inning,
Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) joined the home run party, sending a deep ball over the fence to score herself.
Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) got on base and moved to second on a hit from
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony) before scoring on a single from Van Ess. Lexvold also added to the home run count with a two-RBI dinger for the first of her collegiate career. Three more singles then juiced the bases, but the Eagles were stalled four runs in the inning, leaving the ducks on the pond.
UNW opened the sixth with back-to-back singles from Storey and Morrissey, but the Knights held on to find the third out to keep the game going. Anderson hit another double to open the inning and came home from an
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) single.
Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) followed with a single and moved to third on a fielder's choice and an error. A sacrifice fly from Storey scored Trump and the final run for the Eagles.
In the bottom half of the final frame, MLC made it to third base before two strikeouts and a pop fly finished the game.
Anderson was a spark for UNW today with her 4-5 plate performance, two doubles, one home run, and two runs scored. Storey went 3-4 with one RBI. Lexvold was 2-3 with a double and a home run with two RBI. Schoper was 3-5 at the plate with an RBI. Edwards, Keith, and Van Ess each tallied an RBI as well.
Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) continued her hot streak from the circle, striking out 10 batters, allowing just three hits and no runs.
The Eagles are now 12-1 in the UMAC and will round out their six-game week tomorrow with the doubleheader against Martin Luther scheduled for 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
