Softball Walks It Off Versus McKendree To Sweep Day Five In Florida

OVERVIEW – Southern Connecticut St. & McKendree

SCORES: Northwood 4, Southern Connecticut St. 2 / Northwood 2, McKendree 1

RECORDS: Northwood (11-7), Southern Connecticut St. (1-5)/ Northwood (12-7), McKendree (13-9)

LOCATION: Auburndale, Fla. – The Spring Games

RECAP: Northwood softball continued the Florida trip with games 10 and 11 of 12 on Tuesday (March 12) versus Southern Connecticut St. and McKendree. The Timberwolves won two close ones, defeating Southern Connecticut St. 4-2 before earning a 2-1 walk-off win over regional opponent, McKendree.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• With one out, Jillian Krawczak started the Northwood scoring opportunity in the first. She doubled down the right field line and brought up a red-hot Brittany Steimel. She continued her hot stretch with a double to the left center gap, putting Northwood out in front 1-0.
• Northwood would tack on two later in the second. Gage Lambert started the inning off with a single to short. Three batters later Gianna Fantin brought her home with a groundout to the second basemen, 2-0 NU.
• Fantin advanced to second on a wild pitch for Krawczak to single her in. Northwood finished the second on top 3-0. 
• An eventful fifth inning brought the Northwood lead back down to one. A lead off walk from the Owls would come around to score off a Northwood miscue, 3-1 NU.
• The Owls added another, continuing to capitalize the initial miscue with a single through the right side, 3-2 NU.
• In the seventh, Gale's double to left and steal of third put a runner on third with one out. Lambert's sacrifice fly to center added a much-needed insurance run for Nu going into the bottom half of the inning, 4-2 NU.
• Emily Cox nailed down the final three innings in relief, going 1-2-3 in the seventh to earn Northwood's first save of the year.

GAME ONE STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 4/7/2, Southern Connecticut St. 2/9/1
• Runners left on base: Northwood 9, Southern Connecticut St. 7
• Winning Pitcher – Brynn Polega (4-1), 4 IP, 8 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 3 K
• Losing Pitcher – Rachel Miller (0-1), 7 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 4 K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Gale: 3-4, 2 2B, R, SB
• Krawczak: 2-3, 2B, RBI, R BB
• Steimel: 1-4, 2B, RBI
• Lambert: 1-3, RBI, R, SF
• Cox: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K, SV

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• It was a good old-fashioned pitcher's duel going into the third. The Timberwolves threatened with the bases juiced in the second with one out. McKendree's pitcher wouldn't budge getting the next two NU batters.
• The Bearcats stole a run in the third to take the lead. A Bearcats leadoff walk stole second before a single moved them to third. McKendree's next hitter would pop into a double play that allowed the runner to score, 1-0 MU.
• Northwood would catch a break in the fifth. Gabby Schloop led off with a walk when two fielder's choices later brought up a red-hot Steimel. A drive to left center fell after the center fielder dropped the chance to end the inning. Krawczak's speed scored her from first to tie the game at 1-1.
• Brittani Mutter's ability to get out of jams gave the Timberwolves a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh. Ashley Ziel led off the seventh with a single through the left side. Lundquist drew a walk to bring up Steimel again. The Bearcats chose to intentionally walk her which made it easier for Fantin to draw a walk for the win, 2-1 NU.

GAME TWO STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 2/4/1, McKendree 1/4/1
• Runners left on base: Northwood 7, McKendree 7
• Winning Pitcher – Brittani Mutter (2-2), 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 4 BB, 2 K
• Losing Pitcher – P. McAllister (6-4), 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), 6 BB, 5 K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Steimel: 1-3, BB
• Kamden Binney: 1-2, BB
• Fantin: 0-3, BB, RBI
• Ziel: 1-1

UP NEXT

• Northwood softball is back in action Wednesday (March 13) for their final two games in Florida. They do battle with Saint Anslem at 2 p.m. followed by Shepherd at 4:15 p.m.