GRAPEVINE, Tex. - From 10:30 AM this morning, the University of Northwestern Softball team was forced to wait to take the field. Due to lightning in the area, the Eagles' scheduled 3:30 PM game was delayed until 10:15 PM. Despite the long wait and late-night start, UNW came out energized, fueled by the Pink Panther theme song and Washed by Elevation Worship. After knocking off the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds yesterday, Northwestern faced its toughest challenge yet in No. 1 seed Columbia International University. The Eagles scored in both the third and fifth innings to remain unbeaten in the winners' bracket with a 2-1 victory.
UNW recorded its first hit of the game in the top of the third when Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) ripped a ball to shortstop. A bunt from Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco) moved Lexvold to second, and Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Hannah Storey (Big Lake, Minn./Monticello) then dropped a ball between first base and the right fielder, allowing Lexvold to score the game's opening run.
Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) added another hit for Northwestern in the fourth inning, leading off with a single up the middle. The junior advanced to second on a wild pitch and later moved to third on a flyout to right field, but the Eagles were unable to bring her home.
Northwestern again found success through the middle of the field in the fifth inning, as Lexvold sent a ball through the 4-6 hole for another hit. A sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position before Emma Westrate (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek) entered as a pinch runner. Schoper delivered a hit to move Westrate to third, and Storey drove in the Eagles' second run with a single through the left side.
CIU threatened in the bottom of the fifth by putting runners on first and second, but the Eagle defense retired the next two batters to preserve the lead. The Rams mounted another threat in the sixth inning and eventually pushed across one run to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Lexvold sparked the seventh inning with a hard-hit single to center field. Van Ess then worked an important walk before Schoper reached base, loading the bases with one out. Northwestern closed the inning with a gritty, 11-pitch at-bat from Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson).
Just three outs away from victory, the Eagles leaned on their defense one final time. Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) opened the bottom of the seventh with a huge swinging strikeout before Northwestern secured the final two outs on pop flies to seal the 2-1 win.
Lexvold provided a spark at the plate for UNW, going 3-3 as she and Westrate, in her stead, scored both runs. Storey also played a huge role with two hits and two RBI. Schoper and Edwards also had one hit.
Strubbe continued to dominate in the circle for UNW, pitching all seven innings with six strikeouts. She also finished with no walks and one run, surrendering just seven hits.
With the win, Northwestern improved to 3-0 in the tournament and will advance to face No. 4 seed Wayland Baptist University at 1:00 PM tomorrow, May 20.
