ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College softball team (30-8, 9-5 GPAC) split with the Mustangs of Morningside College (25-13, 11-7 GPAC).
Morningside scored in every inning of the first game, taking game one 13-2 in five innings. The Raiders responded in game two to win 4-3 behind big performances from
Kate Kralik (Fr., Indianola, Iowa) and
Jordyn Kramer (Sr., Larchwood, Iowa).
GAME 1: Morningside 13, Northwestern 2
Pitching Decisions
Win: K. Wurtz (12-8)
Loss: Kameryn Etherington (16-4)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
Morningside struck first scoring two unearned runs due to Raider errors in the top of the first inning.
The Raiders would respond to get two runs of their own tying the game in the bottom of the first.
Emily Strasser (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) singled, scoring two (2-2).
Morningside scored two more in the top of the second, on an RBI double and an RBI single. The Mustangs tacked on another run in the third on another RBI single.
The fourth inning saw the Mustangs score four more runs, three of those runs coming via a bases clearing double.
The fifth inning saw the final three Mustang runs cross the plate, making the final 13-2.
Game Notes
- The Raiders were doubled up in the hit column, 14 for the Mustangs and seven for Northwestern.
- The Mustangs had two hitters tally three RBI a piece.
- The Raiders committed an uncharacteristic four errors.
- Kameryn Etherington (So., Algona, Iowa) threw four innings, giving up nine hits and seven runs with four strikeouts.
GAME 2: Northwestern 4, Morningside 3
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kate Kralik (15-4)
Loss: G. Buffington (13-5)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
With both teams scoreless and Strasser on base, Kramer smacked a home run over the left center fence in the bottom of the second to put the Raiders ahead 2-0.
Bri Giordano (Jr., Arroyo Grande, Calif.) doubled with one out and advanced on a single. She then scored on an error by the first baseman to put the Raiders ahead 3-0.
Morningside tied the game up on a two-out double that cleared the bases.
In the bottom of the sixth
Jennifer Boeve (Jr., Hastings, Neb.) doubled down the left field line with no one out, putting the Raiders in a good position. After a line out, Strasser smoked a single up the middle to score Boeve, putting the Raiders ahead 4-3.
Game Notes
- The Raider out hit the Mustangs 9-5 for game two.
- Giordano, Grotewold, and Strasser tallied two hits a piece.
- Kralik threw a complete game only allowing five hits and striking out nine, she was the Scooter's Player of the Game.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach, Shane Bouman (on game one…):
"Some early miscues proved to be costly. Those miscues were too much for us to overcome and we had to regroup and refocus so that we could put a better game together for game two."
Head Coach, Shane Bouman (on Kralik's performance…):
"Outstanding pitching by
Kate Kralik today.
Jordyn Kramer's homerun really kickstarted our offense and sparked some other key hits for us. It was a great bounce back win in game two."
STAT OF THE GAME: 3 – The Raiders are in sole possession
of third place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC).
Up Next: The Raiders will head to Sioux Center, Iowa to face off with their Sioux County rival, Dordt University, on April 26, beginning at 5:00 p.m.
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