Game Time...Northwestern College is set to play 10 games in a span of five days over its Spring Break trip in Tucson, Ariz. The Red Raiders will play three games on Tuesday and Friday and will play two games on both Wednesday and Saturday with an off day on Thursday. Five of the teams that Northwestern will play are ranked or receiving votes. 

Scouting Reports...

    #10 Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats: 11-1     Head Coach: Steve Babinski (7th year)

    The Wildcats dropped their first game of the season last time out, losing to Olivet Nazarene 5-3 in eight innings, in the first game of the Tucson Invite. They opened the year with 11 consecutive wins, all in non-conference play. Northwestern is 3-1 all-time against IWU but has not played since the 1999 season. The Wildcats play in the Crossroads League.

    Offense: 5.1 runs per game; .288 team batting average    Defense: 2.1 runs given up; 2.18 ERA  82 K's in 77 IP

    Top Players:
    Hannah Eiler-.550 BA, 3 runs, 5 RBIs
    Kelsey Kooistra-.400 BA, 7 runs, 2 RBIs
    Lauren Buckley-.323 BA, 8 runs, 4 RBIs
    Rebecca Schrad-.280 BA, 4 runs

    Carlie Weaver: 5-0, 1.35 ERA  26 IP, 28 K's
    Mckenzey Ridge: 5-0, 1.93 ERA  40 IP, 38 K's

    Aquinas Saints: 5-4     Head Coach: Brad Koch (11th year)

    The Saints have alternated wins/losses through the first nine games of the season and bring a 5-4 record into Tucson. Part of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), they defeated Saint Ambrose in their last game, 8-5, on Feb. 25. Northwestern is 2-3 all-time against Aquinas, last playing in the 2015 season. 

Offense: 5 runs per game; .294 team batting average    Defense: 4.8 runs given up; 3.71 ERA  42 K's in 60.1 IP

        Top Players:
    Morgan Giddings-.343 BA, 4 runs, 8 RBIs
    Alex Forsythe-.321 BA, 3 runs, 3 RBIs
    Briana Mairose-.320 BA, 5 runs, 2 HR, 8 RBIs
    
    Mandy Rosol: 3-1, 3.10 ERA  20.1 IP, 6 K's
    Marisa Loya: 1-0, 3.82 ERA, 22 IP, 25 K's

    (RV) Olivet Nazarene Tigers: 5-4   Head Coach: Hannah Gardner (3rd year)

    The Tigers opened the season with four straight wins, sweeping double headers against Warner (Fla.) and Ave Maria (Fla.). Three losses followed but they came back to upset 10th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan 5-3 (8 innings) in the first game of the Tucson Invite. They then lost to Missouri Valley in their next game and are 5-4 on the season. Part of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), Northwestern is 0-4 all-time against the Tigers. 

Offense: 3.6 runs per game; .261 team batting average    Defense: 3.6 runs given up; 2.83 ERA  34 K's in 47 IP

    Top Players:
    Makenna Emerson-.333 BA, 3 runs, 4 RBIs
    Sara Beers-.333 BA, 2 runs
    Samantha Alberto-.316 BA, 1 run, 3 RBIs
    Miranda Southall-.286 BA, 2 runs, 2 RBIs

    Emily Carstens: 1-1, 0.47 ERA 15 IP, 12 K's
    Emily Struble: 2-0, 3.00 ERA  14 IP, 12 K's        

    William Penn Lady Statesmen: 5-5     Head Coach: Mike Christner (17th year)

William Penn opened play in Tucson with a 1-1 record, defeating Mount Marty (9-7) and losing to Aquinas 11-3 in six innings. They are 5-5 on the season and play in the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). Northwestern is 0-5 all-time against the Lady Statesmen, last playing in 2017.

Offense: 3.1 runs per game; .239 team batting average    Defense: 5 runs given up; 3.92 ERA  41 K's in 50 IP

    Top Players:
    Dalaney Bice-.458 BA, 3 runs, HR, 7 RBIs
    Sonia Reddy-.333 BA, 5 runs
    Tabitha Scott-.333 BA, 2 runs
    Kacey Lutz-.313 BA, 3 runs, 2 RBIs

    Katie Sprinter: 2-1, 1.47 ERA  14 K's in 19 IP
    Shelby Copley: 1-1, 2.29 ERA  14 K's in 18.1 IP

    Roosevelt University Lakers: 1-4     Head Coach: Aaron Moore (2nd year)

 Also a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), the Lakers are 1-4 so far thi season heading into Tucson. They defeated Goshen (Ind.) 7-3 and have losses to 10th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan and Saint Francis (Ind.) over their last three games. This will be the first ever match-up between the two teams.

Offense: 4.1 runs per game; .292 team batting average    Defense: 6.1 runs given up; 5.13 ERA  15 K's in 30 IP

    Top Players:
    Brooke Lee-.600 BA, 4 runs
    Haley Huss-.438 BA, 2 runs, 4 RBIs
    Kelli Jones-.316 BA, 4 runs, 4 RBIs
    Amber Green-.308 BA, 2 runs, 4 RBIs

    Brinn Arwood: 1-1, 3.39 ERA  5 K's in 10.1 IP
    Madison Lentz: 0-2, 7.41 ERA  4 K's in 11.1 IP

    (RV) Madonna Crusaders: 6-4    Head Coach: Jerry Abraham (10th year)

Earning votes in the NAIA preseason poll, Madonna is off to a 6-4 start to the 2018 season. Members of the WHAC, the Crusaders split a doubleheader against St. Francis (Ill.) last time out, losing 12-0 in five innings and 9-7 in game two. Northwestern is 2-2 all-time against Madonna, last playing in 2013. 

Offense: 5 runs per game; .286 team batting average    Defense: 4.8 runs given up; 3.44 ERA  30 K's in 57 IP

    Top Players:
    Becky Giacobbie-.545 BA, 6 runs
    Julia Cavagnini-.529 BA, 3 runs
    Kattie Popko-.421 BA, 6 runs, 4 RBIs
    Halee Warren-.364 BA, 1 run 

    Ciera Jones: 2-0, 0.57 ERA, 2 K's in 12.1 IP
    Madisen Henry: 1-1, 0.70 ERA, 18 K's in 20 IP

   #11 University of St.Francis Fighting Saints: 3-1   Head Coach: Amanda Jensen (6th year)

The Fighting Saints will be the second highest ranked team Northwestern will face so far this season, beginning the season 11th in the preseason poll. They are 3-1 so far this season, splitting games against Madonna and defeating #10 Indiana Wesleyan and Aquinas. They play in the CCAC and Northwestern is 1-3 all-time against the Fighting Saints.

Offense: 9.5 runs per game; .426 team batting average    Defense: 4.5 runs given up; 4.20 ERA  13 K's in 10 IP

    Top Players:
    Ally Balandis-.714 BA, 3 runs, HR, 3 RBIs
    Hailey Lenth-.571 BA, 3 runs, 2 RBIs
    Brooke Karraker-.500 BA 4 runs

    Morghan Dieringer: 1-0, 0.00 ERA  5 IP

    Saint Xavier Cougars: 0-2   Head Coach: Erin Mollohan-Corrao (2nd year)

Members of the CCAC, the Cougars opened their season with losses to Dakota Wesleyan (5-3) and Indiana Wesleyan (9-6) today in Tucson, Ariz. This will be the first ever match-up between Northwestern and SXU. 

    no stats available

    Indiana Tech Warriors: 0-5    Head Coach: Stephanie Zimny (2nd year)

The Warriors have dropped five games, all to Cumberland (Tenn.), at the start of the 2018 season. They are members of the WHAC and this will be the first ever match-up between Northwestern and the Warriors.

Offense: 1.8 runs per game; .172 team batting average    Defense: 5.8 runs given up; 7.00 ERA  13 K's in 28 IP

    Top Players:
    Ali Lenoue-.385 BA, 3 runs, HR, 4 RBIs
    Carolyn Murrey-.300 BA
    Marta Pasqualini-.250 BA, 2 runs

    Sarah Ratledge: 0-0, 0.72 ERA  4 Ks in 9 IP
    Marta Pasqualini: 0-1, 10.00 ERA  4 Ks in 7 IP

    (RV) University of Jamestown Jimmies: 11-2         Head Coach: Kevin Gall (18th year)

The Jimmies are off to an impressive start to the 2018 season, owning an 11-2 record coming to Tucson, Ariz. Their only two losses are to Valley City State and Dickinson State, losing to the Blue Hawks last time out 6-3 in 13 innings. Earning votes in the preseason poll, Jamestown plays in the North Star Athletic Association and is 3-3 all-time against Northwestern.

Offense: 6.8 runs per game; .379 team batting average    Defense: 3.4 runs given up; 2.87 ERA  58 K's in 92.2 IP

    Top Players:
    Mikayla Frost-.561 BA, 11 runs, 2 HR, 12 RBIs
    Emma Keller-.532 BA, 19 runs, 3 HR, 22 RBIs
    Kassi Ward-.500 BA, 7 runs, HR

    Jasmine Pipella: 4-0, 0.98 ERA  18 Ks in 28.2 IP
    Brittany Rheault: 4-2, 2.75 ERA  21 Ks in 35.2 IP

Northwestern Notes...

The Red Raiders opened the season last weekend, going 3-2 against teams from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) in games played in Wichita, Kan. Northwestern lost to ranked teams, (RV) Friends and #13 Ottawa, and defeated Bethany, Bethel and McPherson. 

Northwestern is hitting .301, scoring 4.6 runs per game, and Red Raider pitchers are giving up two runs per game and sports a team ERA of 1.64. The Red Raiders pitching staff has 33 strikeouts and just nine walks in 35 innings. 

    Leading Hitters:
    Emily Bosch: .615 BA, 1 run, 1 RBI
    Emily Sones: .600 BA, 1 run, 6 RBIs
    Emma Schnell: .500 BA, 3 runs, 2 HR, 5 RBIs
    Jessica Sandbulte: .333, 6 runs, 1 RBI

    Top Pitchers:
    Samantha Ubben: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 IP
    Kayla Tindall: 1-1, .069 ERA, 14 IP, 18 K's
    Emma Schnell: 1-1, 3.46 ERA, 14 IP, 12 K's