ST. PAUL, Minn. – On the second day of the UMAC Softball Tournament, the University of Northwestern battled No. 2 seed Bethany Lutheran College in the winners' bracket. In a tightly contested game featuring just eight total hits, a first-inning home run by the Vikings proved to be the difference as the Eagles fell 1-0. With the loss, UNW later faced the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the elimination bracket for a chance to advance to the championship round. Against the Yellowjackets, Northwestern's offense came alive as the Eagles rallied for a 5-4 victory.
GAME ONE
Northwestern quickly recorded two 5-3 putouts to open the game, but Bethany Lutheran responded with a solo home run to take an early lead. That lone swing proved to be all the Vikings needed as the Eagles threatened throughout the game but could not overcome the one-run deficit.
Though Northwestern was held scoreless, the Eagles still came up with key plays, finding momentum in the top of the third inning. Hannah Lexvold (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake Area) sparked the defense when she connected with Lani Schoper (Madison Lake, Minn./Mankato West) on a diving catch and tag to erase a stealing Viking runner.
In the bottom half of the inning, Lexvold continued to impact the game offensively with a hard-hit ball to the shortstop that resulted in an overthrow into the dugout, allowing her to advance to second. Emma Westrate (Fall Creek, Wis./Fall Creek) entered as a pinch runner, and Emma Morrissey (Wasilla, Alas./Colony) laid down a bunt to put runners on the corners. Morrissey later stole second to place the go-ahead run in scoring position, while Schoper drew a walk to load the bases, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize.
In the seventh inning, Kate Trump (Faribault, Minn/Bethlehem Academy) led off with a single to put the tying run aboard. Jenna Nusbaum (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park) advanced Trump to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Lexvold followed with a single to put the potential winning run on base. However, both runners were stranded as the Vikings secured the 1-0 victory.
Schoper and Morrissey each finished 1-2 at the plate, while Lexvold and Trump both went 1-3. Ireland Strubbe (Chandler, Ariz./Valley Christian) pitched all seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six batters.
GAME TWO
Facing elimination, the Eagles found themselves trailing early after UW-Superior connected on a two-run home run in the first inning. Northwestern quickly responded as Bryn Anderson (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson) and Emma Edwards (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) each reached base with two outs to bring Trump to the plate. After delivering the game-winning hit against Morris the day before, Trump came through again, launching a three-run home run to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
UW-Superior answered with a run in the top of the third to tie the game at three, and the score remained deadlocked until the sixth inning when the Yellowjackets added another run to reclaim the lead.
Northwestern responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Trump started the rally with a single before a walk, and Nusbaum single scored Gabrielle Keith (Marble Rock, Iowa/Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock) and moved her into scoring position. Addisyn Hansen (Tea, S.D./Tea Area) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Westrate entered to pinch run for Keith and later raced home on a Schoper sacrifice fly to give the Eagles a 5-4 advantage.
The Eagles shut the door in the seventh inning, retiring the Yellowjackets in order to secure the victory and advance to the championship round against Bethany Lutheran.
Trump finished 2-3 at the plate with three RBI, while Nusbaum went 1-1 with a key RBI. Kate Van Ess (Luxemburg, Wis./Luxemburg Casco), Keith, Edwards, and Trista Oberle (Hudson, Wis./Homeschool) each recorded a hit, while Schoper drove in the game-winning run. Strubbe delivered another complete-game performance in the circle, striking out three batters while allowing three earned runs on five hits.
With the win, Northwestern set a new program record for single-season victories with 29. The Eagles will now have the opportunity to compete for the UMAC Championship against defending champion Bethany Lutheran. The first championship game is scheduled for noon, with a second game set for 2:30 PM if necessary.
