Softball Rallies To Take Two against Southern Indiana and Illinois- Springfield
OVERVIEW – Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles and Illinois-Springfield
SCORES: Northwood 5, Southern Indiana 4 / Northwood 5, Illinois-Springfield 1
RECORDS: Northwood 4-2, Southern Indiana 10-5 / Northwood 4-2, Illinois-Springfield 10-2
LOCATION: Jack C. Fischer Park – Owensboro, Kentucky.
RECAP: The Timberwolves bounced back big on the final day of the Blue Bridge Battle by rallying in both games to beat Southern Indiana (5-4) and Illinois-Springfield (5-1). The T-Wolves scored six of their ten runs in magic sixth inning today. In both games, NU took the lead and never looked back. It was a 4-2 final Blue Bridge Battle record for Northwood as they head back north to gear up for Florida.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS – Southern Indiana
- The Screaming Eagles started the scoring started in the top half of the second with a 2 RBI single by starting pitcher Hailey Gotshell.
- It wasn't a long lead for USI as NU answered right back in a major way the next half inning. Madelin Skene led off with a walk followed by a Brynn Polega single and sac fly by Karlie Moore.
- Madison Jordan then doubled to right center scoring Polega. A walk and a pop out later, the Timberwolves did some real damage with a two RBI triple by Emily Mankel to take the lead at 4-2.
- After few scoreless innings the Eagles were able to get runners on the corners via a triple and HBP. Simultaneously, a pitching change, a walk, and a 2 RBI single later the game was tied at four.
- Gianna Fantin came up clutch for the T-Wolves as she singled up the middle to score Jillian Krawczak. That run ended up being the deciding run in the next inning.
GAME ONE STATS
- Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 5/8/0, Southern Indiana 4/8/0
- Runners left on base: Northwood 7, Southern Indiana 6
- Winning Pitcher – Shayna Frank (2-1): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 4 K
- Losing Pitcher – Maddie Duncan (1-2): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K
TOP NU PERFORMERS
- Mankel: 3-4, 2 RBI, 3B
- Polega: 2-3, R
- Jordan: 1-3, RBI, R, 2B
- Leister: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), ) BB, 3 K
- Fantin: 1-3, RBI
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS – Illinois-Springfield
- It was pitcher's duel early on as only one hit was produced by each team through the first four innings.
- UIS was the first to put a crooked number on the scoreboard as Grace Harris hit a blooper right behind the pitcher that caused an awkward mishap in the infield.
- As was common today, NU flexed their muscles when they were down.
- Karlie Moore led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center, Madison Jordan reached on an error, Gianna Fantin walked, then Haley frank knocked two in on a single up the middle.
- Delanie Grundman then single to score Fantin and Frank scored on a passed ball putting the Timberwolves ahead 4-1.
- Alexis Koehler got an RBI single to left in the seventh to extend the lead to 5-1.
- The Timberwolves showed they will fight till the end and they have the clutch ability to rally late.
GAME TWO STATS
- Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 5/6/2, Illinois-Springfield 1/3/1
- Runners left on base: Northwood 2, Illinois-Springfield 5
- Winning Pitcher: Shayna Frank (3-1): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 8 K
- Losing Pitcher: Payton Long (4-1): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 2 K
TOP NU PERFORMERS
- H. Frank: 1-3, 2 RBI, R
- Fantin: 1-3, R, BB
- Jordan: 1-3: 2 R
- Grundman: 1-3, RBI
- Koehler: 1-2, RBI
- S. Frank: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 8 K
UP NEXT
Northwood will head out on their annual spring break trip to the sunshine state next weekend (March 5-12). The Timberwolves will play 14 games over a seven-day period to get themselves ready for conference play