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Game Recap: Softball | | NWC Athletic Communications

Raider Softball Leaves Sioux City with Extra-Innings Win

Gallegos breaks the tie in the eighth, records three hits

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – In the lone Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) matchup on Monday, Northwestern (41-4, 16-2 GPAC) and Morningside (27-10, 12-4 GPAC) met as the top two teams in the race for the regular season conference title.

GAME 1: MOR 2, NWC 1
 
Pitching Decisions
Win: Grace Buffington (15-5)
Loss: Kameryn Etherington (17-4)
Save: None
 
How It Happened
Runs came at a premium in game one of Monday's doubleheader, as a late inning run was the difference in Morningside's conference win.
 
Northwestern scored first in the top of the second, as Chloe Gallegos (So., Carroll, Iowa) hit a leadoff single to get the momentum going. On the next pitch, Gallegos advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a throwing error, setting up an RBI groundout for Kameryn Etherington (Jr., Algona, Iowa) later in the at-bat.
 
While the Raider defense kept Morningside at bay for the next two innings, the Mustangs tied it up after a leadoff double led to an RBI bunt single later in the inning.
 
The next run came across the plate in the bottom of the fifth when the hosts took their first lead of the day on a wild pitch.
 
Northwestern was in business in their last set of at-bats, as Etherington started the seventh inning with a triple. However, a one-out baserunning strategy was snuffed out by Morningside, ending the game with a double play at home plate.
 
Game Notes
  • Kameryn Etherington went 1-3 with an RBI and a triple.
  • The Raiders only struck out once as a team.
  • Charli Bomgaars recorded a base hit and had a sacrifice bunt.
  • Kate Kralik struck out three batters, going four innings in the start.
  • Northwestern lost only their second game of the season when scoring first (30-2).
 
GAME 2: NWC 7, MOR 4 (8 innings)
 
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kate Kralik (16-0)
Loss: Braden Biddlecome (4-2)
Save: None
 
How It Happened
It took an extra frame, but Northwestern found a way to come back home with a split on the day and keep themselves in first place of a tight GPAC race.
 
The Raiders struck first in the opening inning, with Kameryn Etherington singling in the game's first run from second, giving Northwestern a 1-0 lead.
 
Morningside answered in the second, bringing home a run with two runners on and one out to tie the game.
 
In the top of the third, Northwestern had a three-run inning, scoring their first run on a wild pitch that sent Madysn Grotewold (Jr., Larchwood, Iowa) home. In the same at-bat, Etherington recorded her second RBI of the day, pulling a double to left-center to score Emily Strasser (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.). The Raiders added one more with two away in the inning, as Chloe Gallegos singled to send Etherington around from second.
 
Continuing the trend of identical offense throughout the series, Morningside used three RBI singles to score three runs in the bottom of the third, tying the score at 4-4.
 
The score held until the eighth when Gallegos put the Raiders ahead on a ground ball RBI single, taking advantage of Etherington's leadoff single. Looking to add to their lead, Northwestern got a productive pinch-hit at-bat from Leah Schaefer (Fr., Marshall, Minn.) as her single made the score 6-4, the freshman's eighth RBI of the year. The Raiders added another insurance run on an Ellie Jacobson (Jr., Humboldt, Iowa) pinch-hit single before Kate Kralik (So., Indianola, Iowa) helped Northwestern shut down the game on the defensive side.
 
Game Notes
  • Chloe Gallegos went 3-4 with two RBIs.
  • Kameryn Etherington also had three hits with a pair of runs driven in.
  • Emily Strasser surpassed 200 career hits with her two hits today.
  • Ashtyn Billings finished with a base hit and a stolen base.
  • With the win, Northwestern remains in sole possession of first place in the GPAC.
  • The Raiders recorded 14 hits as a team.
  • Once again, NWC only struck out once.
  • NWC's 41st win on the year is tied for fourth in program history.
 
"We really battled back in the second game," commented sophomore pitcher Kate Kralik. "We showed how tough we all are. It's really fun to see how the hard work we have all put in is paying off!"

Up Next: The Raiders will turn around to face Mount Marty on the road tomorrow at 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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