SEWARD, Neb. - After a home sweep earlier in the week, Northwestern went on the road to face Concordia on Saturday where they would split with the Bulldogs, dropping game one 4-2 before bouncing back with a strong late inning push to win 7-5.

Game 1: NWC 2 - CUNE 4
Win: K. Denison (9-8)
Loss: Allison Koontz (9-6)
Save: None

How It Happened:
Northwestern opened the game with a strong offensive performance. Ava Gross was hit by a pitch and subsequently stole second base. Tatum Schmalbeck capitalized with a single through the right side to bring Gross home. Schmalbeck later stole home while Paige Kingery was caught stealing, adding another run. Concordia responded in its half of the first with a three-run homer, taking a 3-2 lead.

The game remained scoreless through the fifth inning, with both teams maintaining strong defensive plays. The Raiders had opportunities, including a triple by Kavri Van Kekerix in the sixth, but Van Kekerix was caught stealing at home plate, halting the scoring chance.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs extended their lead with a triple and a subsequent RBI single making the score 4-2 in favor of Concordia. Ultimately, Northwestern would be held scoreless in the seventh, sealing the win for the home team.

Game Notes:

• Five of the six runs in the game came in the first inning.
• The Raiders were looking to steal bases all day, going six for eight.
• Rylee Bomgaars and Tatum Schmalbeck each had two.
• Northwestern struggled defensively with six errors.
• Schmalbeck and Ava Gross scored the two lone runs of the contest.

Game 2: NWC 7 - CUNE 5
Win: Tatum Schmalbeck (9-1)
Loss: K. Linn (5-4)
Save: None

How It Happened:
Concordia took an early lead in the second inning with an RBI double before extending their lead to 2-0 in the fourth by stealing home.

Northwestern got on the board in the fifth inning. Kavri Van Kekerix was hit by a pitch and later scored on a fielding error by the shortstop. Aly Vortherms, pinch-running, also scored during the play, tying the game at 2-2. The Bulldogs regained the lead, making it 3-2, by the end of the fifth.

In the sixth inning, the Raiders' offense got a spark as Kavri Van Kekerix hit a three-run homer, driving in Allison Koontz and Berkley Johannsen, putting the Raiders ahead 5-3. Concordia wasn't going down without a fight, adding one more run, making it 5-4. The seventh inning saw the Raiders solidify their lead with an Ava Gross double before a two-RBI double by Paige Kingery. The Bulldogs managed to score one more run, but the Raiders held on to win 7-5.

Game Notes

• Kavri Van Kekerix had an 1.000 OPS in the contest with one hit, one walk, and two hit-by-pitches.
• Van Kekerix's lone hit was the three-RBI homer to take the late lead.
• No strikeouts for the Raiders batters.
• Ava Gross and Paige Kingery both had two hits, each also had a double.
• Northwestern's defense held strong allowing eleven hits but only four earned runs.

Up Next: The Raiders will face Morningside on Tuesday, April 14 at 3pm in Sioux City.

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