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Northwestern College Athletics

Northwestern College
HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
HONORING CHRIST THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
Nike
sb-recap-260408
3
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU 12-23
18
Winner Northwestern NWC 22-12
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU
12-23
3
Final
18
Northwestern NWC
22-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU 1 1 0 0 1 3 5 1
Northwestern NWC 3 2 8 5 X 18 14 0

W: Koontz, Allison (9-5) L: Aubrey White (6-7)

0
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU 12-24
8
Winner Northwestern NWC 23-12
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU
12-24
0
Final
8
Northwestern NWC
23-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Briar Cliff (IA) BCU 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 3
Northwestern NWC 0 0 5 3 X 8 10 0

W: Schmalbeck, Tatum (8-1) L: Grace Batcheller (0-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | NWC Athletic Communications

Raiders Ride Electric Offense, Opportunistic Pitching to Sweep

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern's offense was on full display, combining for 26 runs in their sweep of Briar Cliff on Wednesday.

GAME 1: NWC 18, BCU 3 (5 inn.)
Pitching Decisions
Win: Allison Koontz (9-5)
Loss: Aubrey White
Save: None

How It Happened
Northwestern secured a commanding 18–3 victory over Briar Cliff on Wednesday, powered by three home runs and six doubles. The Red Raiders compiled a total of 14 hits across five innings, while holding the Chargers to five hits in the league matchup.

In the first inning, Briar Cliff took an early lead when Leah Montes doubled, allowing Elizabeth Austin to score. The Raiders quickly responded in the bottom half with Allison Koontz hitting a three-run homer, scoring Ava Gross and Paige Kingery, ending the inning with Northwestern leading 3–1.

During the second inning, Madi Keon scored for the Chargers on a double by Shelby Blankenship, but the Red Raiders extended their lead in their offensive half. Kavri Van Kekerix scored on a sacrifice bunt by Rylee Bomgaars, followed by an RBI double from Gross, bringing the score to 5–2.

The third inning saw Northwestern significantly widen the gap. Kingery hit a solo home run to lead off the frame before Gross hit a three-RBI double, and Koontz added a two-RBI double, tallying an eight-run inning and increasing the lead to 13–2.

The Red Raiders continued their offensive momentum in the fourth inning. A grand slam by Gross brought in four more runs, while Sydney Jacobs added another with an RBI single, pushing the score to 18–2.

In the fifth inning, the Chargers managed to score one more run with a double from Sydney Ebel, but it was not enough to challenge the Raiders' commanding lead.

GAME NOTES:
  • The Raiders' 18 runs scored is tied for the most since 2019's record-breaking 28 runs in a game.
  • Ava Gross tied Northwestern's single-game record with eight RBIs, the most since Renae Bahrke in 2002.
  • Gross went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a grand slam.
  • Northwestern now has three grand slams on the year, as Gross's joins grand slams by Allison Koontz and Kavri Van Kekerix.
  • Koontz went 3-for-4 with five RBIs and a three-run home run.
  • In the circle, she threw a complete game with three strikeouts.
  • Paige Kingery homered for the first time in her collegiate career.
  • Faith Kacmarynski went 3-for-3 with a double and three runs.
  • Rylee Bomgaars drove in two runs and scored once.
  • Kavri Van Kekerix and Berkely Johannsen each drew two walks.
GAME 2: NWC 8, BCU 0 (5 inn.)
Pitching Decisions
Win: Tatum Schmalbeck (8-1)
Loss: Grace Batcheller
Save: None

How It Happened
Northwestern finished off the sweep with an 8-0 victory over Briar Cliff in game two. The Red Raiders scored eight runs on 10 hits, capitalizing with three doubles and three stolen bases.

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, with both teams leaving runners on base early on.

The third inning saw Northwestern take control. Ava Gross led off with a single, followed by a Tatum Schmalbeck double to left center, driving in Gross. Paige Kingery's single advanced Schmalbeck to third before Allison Koontz's base hit brought her home. Kavri Van Kekerix then singled, driving in Kingery, and advanced on a throw. Faith Kacmarynski's single, coupled with a fielding error by the right fielder, allowed Van Kekerix to score. Kacmarynski also crossed home plate later in the inning on a defensive mistake, ending the inning with a 5-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Raiders added three more runs. Rylee Bomgaars was hit by a pitch and scored on Gross's double. Gross later scored on a wild pitch before an RBI groundout by Cassidy Gors brought Aly Vortherms home, closing out an 8-0 win.

GAME NOTES:
  • Ava Gross continued her perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, a double, a steal, and two runs.
  • Tatum Schmalbeck and Allison Koontz both had two hits and an RBI.
  • Schmalbeck added a stolen base and threw a complete game shutout.
  • Paige Kingery had a hit, a walk, and scored once.
  • Kavri Van Kekerix scored and brought a run home on a 1-for-3 outing.
Up Next: Northwestern will face Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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