ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College softball team (30-8, 9-5 GPAC) swept the Flames of College of Saint Mary (11-23, 7-9 GPAC) in two close games on the Raider's senior day.
Game one saw
Emily Strasser (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) hit the game winning RBI in the bottom of the sixth. Game two was a pitchers' duel resulting in a walk-off win for the Raiders.
GAME 1: Northwestern 3, College of Saint Mary 2
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kameryn Etherington (15-3)
Loss: E. Schnell (8-13)
Save: Kate Kralik (3)
How It Happened
College of Saint Mary was first to strike on the score board with a solo homerun in the top of the second inning.
The fourth inning saw the Raiders set up with runners on second and third as
Kameryn Etherington (So., Algona, Iowa) stepped in and delivered a safety squeeze as the catcher threw her out at first, allowing
Gwen Mikkelsen (Jr., Casa Grande, Ariz.) to score (1-1).
The Flames would retake the lead in the top of the sixth with an RBI single up the middle, giving them a 2-1 lead.
The Raiders would answer immediately in the bottom of the sixth as
Bri Giordano (Jr., Arroyo Grande, Calif.) would single down the left field line to score
Madysn Grotewold (So., Larchwood, Iowa) and tying the game at two. Strasser would deliver with a double to left center field to score Etherington, giving the Raiders the lead 2-1.
Game Notes
- Chloe Gallegos (Fr., Carroll, Iowa) notched a multi-hit game and extended her on base streak to eight.
- Kate Kralik (Fr., Indianola, Iowa) recorded her third save of the season, giving her the Great Plain Athletic Conference (GPAC) lead.
- The Raiders successfully recorded four sacrifice hits in game one.
- Grotewold, Strasser, and Gallegos notched multi-hit games, recording two hits each.
- Etherington threw six innings, only giving up four hits and two runs, striking out four.
- Strasser was named the Scooter's Player of the Game going 2-3 with a double. Her hit scored the game winning run in the sixth inning.
GAME 2: Northwestern 2, College of Saint Mary 1
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kameryn Etherington (16-3)
Loss: M. Garcia (3-10)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
The Flames again were first on the scoreboard in game two, this time via a double in the fourth inning, scoring one run.
The Raiders were quick to respond, tying the game up on a
Jordyn Kramer (Sr., Larchwood, Iowa) double, scoring Strasser.
The bottom of the seventh inning proved to be an exciting finish. Kramer singled with one out and then stole second base, putting the Raiders in a good position with one out. Gallegos worked a walk and
Brooke Zylstra (So., Hull, Iowa) came on to pinch run. A
Charli Bomgaars (Fr., Boyden, Iowa) laid down a sacrifice bunt to get both runners in scoring position with two outs. College of Saint Mary was attempting to intentionally walk
Jennifer Boeve (Jr., Hastings, Neb.) and with a 2-0 count the third pitch of the at-bat was thrown over the head of the catcher allowing Kramer to take home and give the Raiders the walk-off win.
Game Notes
- Gallegos reached via a walk and extended her on base streak to nine games.
- Kramer was the only Raider with multiple hits, two, including a double.
- The fourth inning saw a pivotal defensive play from the Raiders. Kramer fielded a single in centerfield and threw out a Flame runner trying to score from second. After Gallegos tagged the runner out at home she fired to second base to nab the runner trying for the extra base on the throw for the double play.
- Kralik threw four strong innings, only allowing one run to cross.
- Etherington came on the finish the final three innings and struck out two batters to reach her 100th strikeout of the season and recorded her 16th win.
- Kramer was the Scooter's Player of the Game with two hits, including a double, two stolen bases, and scored the game winning run. She also threw out a runner at home to spark a big double play in the fourth inning.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach, Shane Bouman (on his senior class…):
"This amazing group of seniors have changed our program and set it up for success moving forward. Thank you to
Jordyn Kramer,
Bri Giordano,
Sydnee Isom, and
Lauren Pavich for your efforts and commitment to our program."
STAT OF THE GAME:
6 – The Raiders used six sacrifice hits throughout the day to move runners into scoring position and manufacture runs on a windy day at the diamond.
Up Next: The Raiders will return to the diamond tomorrow, April 22, for a doubleheader against Morningside University, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Raiders are currently sitting in third place in the GPAC, one spot ahead of the Mustangs.
