Softball Splits Day Two At The Blue Bridge Battle Versus McKendree And (RV) Ala.-Huntsville

OVERVIEW – McKendree & (RV) Ala.-Huntsville

SCORES: Northwood 7, McKendree 3 / Northwood 1, Ala.-Huntsville 8

RECORDS: Northwood (4-2), McKendree (4-5)/ Northwood (4-3), Ala.-Huntsville (11-5)

LOCATION: Evansville, Ind. – Blue Bridge Battle

RECAP: Northwood softball played two more at the Kentucky Wesleyan's Blue Bridge Battle Saturday (February 24). The Timberwolves capitalized on a 7-run sixth inning versus McKendree to take game one, 7-3 over the Bearcats. In game two, Ala.-Huntsville jumped out an early lead and didn't look back, prevailing 8-1 over Northwood.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Bearcats took an early 1-0 lead in the first after the second batter of the game homered to left center.
• A stalemate ensued until the top of the fourth when McKendree capitalized on a two-out double. They would later score off a single during the next batter, 2-0 MU.
• Moving to the sixth, MU tacked on another with a double and single to extend the lead to 3-0.
• Northwood offense would explode in the sixth, scoring seven to take the lead for good. Singles by Ashley Ziel and Delanie Gale led off the inning before a fielding miscue allowed one to score for the Timberwolves, 2-1 MU.
• Still in the sixth, the Timberwolves' inning was highlighted by five hits including a two-run triple by Jillian Krawczak that scored pinch-runner Saylar Cuthrell and Gianna Fantin to make it 5-3 NU.
• Ashlyn Lundquist would also single and advance to second on a throwing error that scored Krawczak, 6-3 NU.
• To finish off the sixth for the Timberwolves, Ziel's double to center scored Lundquist from second, 7-3.
• Kamden Binney would come in to record the final three outs, giving the Timberwolves their first win of the road trip, 7-3.

GAME ONE STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 7/9/1, McKendree 3/8/2
• Runners left on base: Northwood 6, McKendree 4
• Winning Pitcher – Brynn Polega (2-1), 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K
• Losing Pitcher – E. Quaethem (3-2), 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 7 K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Krawczak: 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, R
• Ziel: 2-4, 2B, RBI
• Gale: 2-4, 2B, R
• Fantin: 2-3, RBI, R

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Ala.-Huntsville capitalized on five hits and a pair of Northwood miscues, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
• A lead-off walk in the third led to another Chargers run after two, two-out singles up the middle, 6-0 UAH.
• Northwood's offense would finally crack the scoreboard in the fifth. Gale led off the inning with a single through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch. She would score following Madison Jordan's single to left, 6-1 UAH.
• UAH would add two more in the bottom of the sixth behind a leadoff single followed by another single and Northwood fielding miscue, 8-1 UAH. 
• Northwood's offense wouldn't muster a comeback, falling 8-1 to Hunstville. 

GAME TWO STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 1/5/4, Ala.-Huntsville 8/12/0
• Runners left on base: Northwood 6, Ala.-Huntsville 9
• Winning Pitcher – G. O'Berry (1-1), 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 7 K
• Losing Pitcher – Emily Cox (1-1), 3 IP, 8 H, 6 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 2 K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Lundquist: 2-3
• Jordan: 1-2, RBI
• Gale: 1-3, R

UP NEXT

• Softball is back for the final day of action at the Blue Bridge Battle tomorrow (February 24) beginning with a matchup with Mo.-St. Louis at 11 a.m. ET followed by the Timberwolves' second game versus Davenport this season at 1 p.m. ET.