NEW ULM, Minn. - In their fifth and sixth game of the week, the University of Northwestern Softball team showed no signs of fatigue as they cruised to 14-1 in conference play with a pair of wins over the Martin Luther Knights on Saturday. They have officially clinched a playoff berth in the UMAC Postseason Tournament. In the first game, the Eagles won 9-1, where
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) tied the single-season RBI record. Edwards collected three more RBI in the second game to become the new Northwestern record holder as UNW went on to win 8-0 in six innings. Through the series, the Eagles outscored the Knights 26-1.
GAME ONE:
The Eagles got off to a hot start on the second day of the series against Martin Luther with the first four batters getting on base.
Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) made it to first with a single before
Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello),
Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson), and Edwards doubled. Anderson's hit scored both Storey and Schoper, while Edwards' hit scored Anderson. With the fourth double in a row,
Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) scored Edwards for the fourth run of the inning. Defensively, Northwestern went three and out to finish the first inning.
In the second inning, Northwestern scored another run with the help of a fielder's choice, an error, and a single from Anderson to score Storey for the fifth run of the game. Martin Luther avoided a shutout as they scored in the second inning.
Both teams went one, two, three in the third inning, before the Eagles tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth.
Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) got the Eagles going with a single to left field. Schoper then hit a double, allowing Lexvold to come all the way home. A Storey single pushed Schoper to third, who then scored on Anderson's hit.
In the top of the sixth inning, Lexvold led off with a single, sparking the offense once again. Schoper also singled before hits from Storey and Anderson advanced the base runners and scored Lexvold. Edwards also singled to drive Schoper home to bring the Eagles up eight.
Schoper played her role at the top of the lineup, getting on base four times on four appearances, scoring three times, and recording one RBI. Anderson was impressive, driving home five runs and going 2-3 at the plate. Lexvold and Storey also went 2-3, both scoring twice. Edwards went 2-4 with two RBI, tying the program record for single-season RBI with 48.
Addisyn Hansen (Tea, S.D./Tea Area) went the distance in the circle, allowing no earned runs and only two hits, while striking out three batters.
GAME TWO:
Like the first game, UNW put multiple runs on the board in the opening frame. However, the Eagles only recorded one hit compared to five in the first game. Schoper worked a walk and stole second, and Anderson made it to first with the assist of an error to put the runners on the corners before Anderson also stole second. They set the table for the lone hit of the inning that broke a Northwestern record. Edwards launched a double to right field to score Schoper. Collecting her 49th RBI this season, becoming the new UNW single-season RBI program leader. She took the top spot from Jaden Iverson's 48 RBI record set last year.
Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) rounded out the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Anderson.
UNW got the bats going in the top of the second with a lead-off double from Van Ess. Schoper followed suit with a double of her own, allowing Van Ess to score. Storey launched a ball to the back wall and beat the throw to third, scoring Schoper. Anderson collected another RBI to score the final run of the inning.
Lexvold and Schoper continued to produce for the Eagles as they opened the fourth inning with singles to centerfield. Anderson also hit a single to score Lexvold, and Edwards drove Schoper home for another RBI on the day.
Up seven, UNW scored their final run in the sixth. Storey knocked another triple and ran the rest of the way home on a sacrifice fly from Edwards.
With her three more RBI, Edwards is now ranked 7th in NCAA Division III for RBI this season at 51, with five regular-season games remaining. Schoper and Storey were 2-3 at the plate with one RBI each and five total runs scored. Anderson added two RBI, and Trump recorded one RBI. In the circle,
Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony) started and pitched two shutout innings with one strikeout. Freshman
Kailynn Duncan (Barron, Wis./Barron) entered for the final two innings and struck out six batters, allowing three hits.
UNW will be in action at home next week on Tuesday, April 28, for a non-conference doubleheader against Luther College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
