MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- North Central University softball will hit the road this weekend for a pailr of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference split double headers hosted by Martin Luther College. When the Rams take the field in New Ulm, NCU will be looking to break a trend of surrendering big chunks of runs in single innings that sink otherwise competitive games. 

North Central (5-18, 4-14)was swept in their last two double headers with each set of games being marked by the Rams struggling to get off the field in an inning where the opponent tags them for a big number. In a split double header versus Northland College (Ashland, Wis.) and The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth, Minn.) on Tuesday, NCU lost 13-3 and 14-5 games. The Rams surrendered 18 of those runs in three innings in a seven inning and five inning loss. The game with St. Scholastica was 5-4 going into the bottom of the fourth before NCU surrendered nine runs and the Saints earned a run-rule victory.

Wednesday afternoon the Rams matched up with Northland College for a double-header at the West St. Paul Dome. The date was originally scheduled to be played in Ashland in early April. NCU lost game one 10-5 despite leading 3-2 after three innings. The Lumberjills posted five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. The Rams did answer with a pair of runs the next at bat but the damage had been done. In game two the Rams trailed just 3-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning before surrendering a seven spot that gave the Jills a 10-2, five inning win.

The Rams played 23 innings of softball in the last two double double headers. The total amount of runs surrendered was clearly an issue but 25 of the 47 runs given up were scored over only four innings. Of the 47 runs surrendered, 17 were unearned. 

One bright spot during this tough stretch has been freshmen Megan Myers (Cannon Falls, Minn/Randolf) and Rachel Thearin (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) combining for six home runs in the last six games.

Friday the Rams will play Martin Luther at 2 p.m. before facing Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) at 4 p.m. Saturday NCU takes on Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.) at 10 a.m. before taking on the University of Minnesota-Morris (Morris, Minn.) at 2 p.m. All four games will be played at Martin Luther College.