The Northland College Softball team split a pair of games today at the UMAC Crossover in West St. Paul, Minn. The LumberJills topped Bethany Lutheran 10-9 in the last game of the day and fell to Crown College 11-10 in the opener.
Bethany Lutheran jumped out to an early lead scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. However the LumberJills matched the Vikings with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Alecea Piper led off the game with a single, stole second, moved to third on a
Kaitlyn Witthun single, and scored on an RBI ground out by
Crystal Diaz.
Carolyn Malecha singled home Witthun and scored herself on an RBI single by
Hattie Hoffman.
The teams matched each other again in the second when both teams scored a single run. Diaz ripped an double scoring Piper who had reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. Northland scored four runs in the third taking an 8-4 lead.
Brigid Reina's RBI double was the highlight of the inning. Bethany cut the lead to three with a run in the fifth; however Northland added a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth
Kelsey Bodart singled, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on
Katie Groeschel's single and scored on a Piper sacrifice fly. In the sixth Diaz hit a blast over the center field fence.
Bethany staged a rally in the top of the seventh scoring four runs but the Jills held on for the 10-9 victory.
Heidi Guenther went the distance in the circle for Northland, picking up her first collegiate win. Piper and Diaz each had a pair of hits for Northland who received offense throughout the lineup. Every starter had a hit.
In the first game of the day Northland took the early 4-0 lead. In the first inning Piper drew a walk, stole second and later scored. In the second
Erin Gilligan singled, stole second, and scored on a Diaz single. In the third Malecha and
Cheyenne Otto started the inning with back to back singles. Malecha scored on a Reina sacrifice fly and Otto scored on an RBI ground out by Gilligan.
After Crown cut the lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the third Northland scored once in the fourth when Witthun doubled and scored. Crown tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Northland again moved into the lead in the sixth when Witthun led off with a double, moved to third on a Diaz single and scored on Malecha's sacrifice fly.
The Purple Storm staged a two out six run rally in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-6 lead. Northland had a rally of their own in the seventh scoring four runs on four hits, but came up one run short leaving the tying run on base. Diaz led the LumberJills with four hits, Witthun had three, and Piper, Malecha, Otto, and Gilligan each had a pair. Northland outhit Crown 15-9.
"It was good to get that first conference win." Said Head Coach
Steve Wammer, "After falling in the last inning to Crown I was happy with the way we bounced back against Bethany. We are hitting the ball well, we just need to be more consistent defensively. "
Northland is back in action Tuesday April 2
nd with a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader with North Central University at LumberJill Field.
Crown Box Score BLC Box Score
