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Northwestern College Athletics

Northwestern College
HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
HONORING CHRIST THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
Nike
sb-recap-gpacchamps-240504
0
Midland MIDLAND 42-9
3
Winner Northwestern NWC 47-5
Midland MIDLAND
42-9
0
Final
3
Northwestern NWC
47-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Midland MIDLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4
Northwestern NWC 0 1 0 0 2 0 X 3 2 1

W: Etherington, Kameryn (22-4) L: A. Rincon (26-6)

0
Midland MIDLAND 42-10
1
Winner Northwestern NWC 48-5
Midland MIDLAND
42-10
0
Final
1
Northwestern NWC
48-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Midland MIDLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Northwestern NWC 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 1 5 0

W: Kralik, Kate (17-1) L: P. Coler (13-4)

Game Recap: Softball | | NWC Athletic Communications

Softball Sweeps GPAC Championship Series, Breaks Single-Season Wins Record

Third time in program history winning both regular season and tournament titles

SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – In a rematch of last year's GPAC championship series and last weekend's regular season finale, No. 9 Northwestern took down 12th-ranked Midland in two games on Saturday.

"It's a great time to be a Red Raider! We have an amazing group of powerful women who want to go 1-0 each time they take the field," head coach Shane Bouman said.

GAME 1: NWC 3, MID 0
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kameryn Etherington (22-4)
Loss: Aliyah Rincon (26-6)
Save: None

How It Happened
It was a battle between two of the best pitchers in the GPAC as Kameryn Etherington and Aliyah Rincon dealt from the circle, and it was Northwestern emerging with a 3-0 win.

Still hitless in the second, Northwestern used its typical small-ball approach to plate the game's first run. The Raiders put the first three batters on with two walks and an error before Maddie Kvatek drove the ball to right, hitting a sacrifice fly that allowed Randi Childress to hustle home from third.

Northwestern created separation in the fifth, using a two-out Gwen Mikkelsen double to send Kvatek around from second. In the following at-bat, Jori Hajek had an RBI base hit to stretch the lead to 3-0.

Despite giving up a leadoff single in the seventh, the Raider defense locked in to force a popup, strikeout, and groundout to leave the runner stranded and take a 1-0 series lead.

Game Notes:
  • Kameryn Etherington thew a complete-game shutout, striking out four batters.
  • She moved into a tie for fourth in single-season wins, also reaching a career-high with 22.
  • Etherington is also tied for the program lead in career wins, matching Melanie Mason (1994-97) with 81 pitching victories.
  • Gwen Mikkelsen doubled, tying the career doubles mark (55) previously set by current assistant coach Jennifer Boeve.
  • Jori Hajek drove in a run, also putting down a sacrifice bunt.
  • Maddie Kvatek drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, also scoring a run.
GAME 2: NWC 1, MID 0
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kate Kralik (17-1)
Loss: Paeton Coler (13-4)
Save: None

How It Happened
Vying for the series sweep, Northwestern once again had a defensive gem to shutout the Midland Warriors 1-0.

In a fast-paced game that clocked in at 89 minutes, the Raiders used another strong pitching performance to post their second shutout of the day.

Midland threatened in the top of the third, loading the bases with two singles and a walk with only one out. The Raiders forced an infield popup and a fly to shallow right to get the next two outs and keep the Warriors off the scoreboard.

The bottom of the fifth saw Tatum Schmalbeck come through with a well-struck base hit into right, creating opportunities for the speedy bottom of the order. With a pinch runner in Alyssa Vortherms getting to second on a wild pitch and being bunted to third by Ashtyn Billings, the Raiders were on track to score the game's first run. Northwestern put on the squeeze play, sending Vortherms home and allowing Maddie Kvatek to reach safely.

Kate Kralik shut down Midland's offensive efforts over the next two innings, striking out the final batter in Northwestern's title win.

Game Notes:
  • Northwestern captured both the GPAC regular season and tournament title in the same season for the third time in program history and first time since 2002.
  • With their 48th win, Northwestern passed its highest single-season wins total of 47 in 2023.
  • Kate Kralik earned the win, matching her season-high with 17 pitching wins.
  • In three innings pitched, Kralik punched out four and allowed one hit.
  • Kameryn Etherington started the game in the circle, going four innings with four Ks.
  • Maddie Kvatek drove in the game's lone run on a bunt single.
  • The Raiders struck out just once as a team.
Up Next: Northwestern will host a four- or five-team NAIA Opening Round pod at Open Space Park in Sioux Center on May 13-16. Opponents and game times will be announced following Tuesday's selection show.
Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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