Game Time...(RV) Northwestern College returns to conference action with a pair of road doubleheaders against Dordt and Midland the next two days. The Red Raiders will match up against Dordt on Wednesday, April 11 at 5/7pm in Sioux Center, followed by two games against Midland on Thursday night, April 12, at 6:15pm/8:15pm (moved up from Saturday). 

Northwestern is currently tied for first in the GPAC with a 5-1 league record, 20-5 overall. Dordt is 0-4 in the GPAC, 11-12 overall and Midland is currently 3-1 in conference action, 16-9 overall.

Follow the games live at the following links:

        Dordt Webcast | Dordt Live Stats

        Midland Webcast /

All-Time...Northwestern owns a 61-28 lead in the all-time series against Dordt but is just 1-4 over the last five match-ups, going 1-2 last year. The Red Raiders are 37-26 all-time against Midland and 4-1 over the last five games.

        Last Year vs Dordt:  5-2 (W), 9-2 (L), 2-1 (L-in GPAC Tournament)

        Last Year vs Midland:  13-5 (W), 8-0 (W)

Scouting Reports...
    
    Dordt Defenders: 0-4 GPAC, 11-12 overall        Head Coach: Jeff Zomer (9th year)

The Defenders have dropped four consecutive games, all in conference play, and bring an 0-4 league record, 11-12 overall into Wednesday night's doubleheader. Since winning three straight (Indiana Tech, Dickinson State and Bellevue), Dordt was swept by Mount Marty (3-1, 9-2) and Midland (2-1, 3-0). 

Zomer returns six starters and its top two pitchers from a 2017 team that finished fourth in the GPAC with a 12-8 record, 21-20 overall. 

By the Numbers:   (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Batting Average: .261 (8th)       Opponent Batting Average: .293 (4th)
    Runs / Game: 4.5 (8th)             Runs Given Up / Game: 4.0 (3rd)
    Hits / Game: 7.4 (8th)               Hits Given Up / Game: 8.2 (4th)
    Stolen Bases: 19/23 (6th)        Stolen Bases by Opponent: 19/22

    Individual Players:
    Marissa Vandenberg (2nd team all-conference): .379 BA, 19 runs, 2 HR
    Hailey Heeringa (All-Conference): .306 BA, 15 runs, 4 HR, 15 RBIs
    Rachel Evavold: .303 BA, 10 runs, 2 HR, 21 RBIs
    Summer Jansen: .302 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBIs

    Rachel Evavold: 4-2, 2.77 ERA  43 IP, 10 BB, 30 K's
    Tianna Top (1st team all-conference): 3-6, 3.75 ERA  59.2 IP, 30 K's

Midland Warriors: 3-1 GPAC, 16-9 overall        Head Coach: Mike Heard (3rd year)

Midland has won three of its last four games, seven of its last nine, and brings a 3-1 league record into Thursday night's doubleheader. They are 16-9 overall and have wins over Dordt (2) and spit against Mount Marty in league play. 

Heard, in his third season as the head of the Midland softball program, returns four starters and nine players from a 2017 team that just missed out on the GPAC postseason tournament, finishing tied with Doane for eighth place with an 8-12 record, 18-24 overall. 

By the Numbers:   (GPAC rank / NAIA rank if top 10)
    Batting Average: .295 (5th)       Opponent Batting Average: .257 (2nd)
    Runs / Game: 4.6 (6th)             Runs Given Up / Game: 3.4 (2nd)
    Hits / Game: 8.1 (5th)               Hits Given Up / Game: 6.8 (2nd)
    Stolen Bases: 20/26 (5th)        Stolen Bases by Opponent: 28/35

    Individual Players:
    Katlin Anders (1st team all-conference): .389 BA, 8 runs, 16 RBIs
    Nicole O'haver (2nd team all-conference): .380 BA, 16 runs
    Sierra Athow: .350 BA, 9 runs, 18 RBIs
    Bobbi Singleton: .304 BA, 8 runs, 14 RBIs

    Jaylee Hinrichs: 9-6, 2.32 ERA (5th), 87.1 IP, 35 BB, 122 K's (1st)
    Madison Plummer: 5-1, 3.03 ERA (8th)  60 IP, 17 BB, 26 K's

(RV) Northwestern College: 5-1 (T1st), 20-5    Head Coach: Chris Nachtgall (7th year)

The Red Raiders have won seven straight games and are off to their best start (20-5) since the 2005 season. They are currently in a tie for first place in the GPAC with a 5-1 record, 20-5 overall. Since its 2-1, game-two win against Morningside on March 22, they have swept three straight doubleheaders, defeating Concordia, Briar Cliff and Waldorf.

By the Numbers: (GPAC rank)
    Batting Average: .320 (3)         Opponent Batting Average: .251 (1st)
    Runs / Game: 6.5 (3)               Runs Given Up / Game: 3.2 (1st)
    Hits / Game: 9.3 (3rd)              Hits Given Up / Game: 6.6 (1st)
    Stolen Bases: 50/57 (1st)        Stolen Bases by Opponent: 11/14

    Individual Players:
    Emily Bosch: .467 BA (3rd), 17 runs, 5 HR (4th), 20 RBIs
    Emily Sones: .413 BA, 5 runs, HR, 13 RBIs
    Jensen Boger: .404 BA, 15 runs, 11 RBIs (10-game hit streak)
    Cheyenne Wilcke: .329 BA, 19 runs, 7 HR (3rd), 20 RBIs
    Jessica Sandbulte: .329 BA, 22 runs (9th), 8 2B (6th), 15 RBI

    Emma Schnell: 9-1, 1.92 ERA (1st); 73 IP, 60 K's (8th)
    Kayla Tindall: 9-3, 2.30 ERA, 74 IP, 77 K's (4th)