PLYMOUTH, Minn.-- North Central came up on the short end of the score board in two of their three games at the Plymouth Creek Dome on Friday. Despite the tough team results Softball got several big performances on Friday lead by Rachael Thearin posting a big day at the plate and earning her first college pitching victory in the cirlce.

Game one paired the Rams up with Martin Luther College (New Ulm, Minn.) in the morning game. NCU fell behind early as the Knights jumped out 3-0 after two innings. But the biggest inning of the game came when Martin Luther posted four runs, three unearned to take control 7-0. North Central got two back in the bottom of the inning when sophomore Megan Myers (Cannon Falls, Minn./Randolf) singled up the middle to drive in senior Keshia Carpentier (Coon Rapids, Minn./Anoka-Ramsey CC) from second. Sophomore Rachael Thearin (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) reached on a walk and sophomore Meryn Garvey (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt) singled to load the bases. Senior Paisley Bennett (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) then drew a walk that drove in a run with two outs. But that would be all the Rams plated in the inning.

Both teams were scoreless in the fourth inning before the Rams got two more in the bottom of the fifth. With one out Megan Myers legged out an infield single and the next at-bat Rachel Thearin blasted a deep home run that was over 250 feet in length and made the score 7-4. The Knights then responded with two in the sixth and two in the seventh to make it 11-4 but a big rally in their final at-bat nearly got NCU a comeback win.

Keshia Carpentier led off with a walk and sophomore Holly Pieper (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) recorded an infield hit on a fielders choice but Carpentier was safe on the throw at second and the Rams rally was in full swing with no outs. A double steal put runners at second and third and after a strikeout, Rachael Thearin chopped a bouncer toward third that could not be fielded in time and the throw allowed Carpentier to score from third and moved Pieper to third. After another strikeout and a wild pitch the Rams had runners at second and third, this time with two outs.

Paisley Bennett was hit by a pitch to load the bases and senior Rachel Powell (Duncansville, Pa./Holidaysburg) was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Sophomore Jamie High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) then singled to third to drive in a run and keep the bases loaded. Sophomore Allison Monson (Wadena, Minn./Wadena-Deer Creek) then walked to push in the Rams' fourth run of the frame. Keshia Carpentier then singled to short to get NCU within 11-9. But a flyout to deep center ended the rally just a few runs shy.

Rachael Thearin was 2-3 in the game with 3 RBI, a home run and a walk. Keshia Carpentier and Megan Myers were each 2-4 with an RBI.

Game two saw NCU take on Maranatha Baptist University (Watertown, Wis.). North Central wasted no time in grabbing control after the Crusaders took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. In the bottom of the first NCU exploded for 12 runs, a number by itself, that would prove enough to earn the win. But NCU pounded out 19 runs in a 19-9 victory.

The Rams sent 17 batters to the plate in the first inning overall and Meryn Garvey blasted a three run homer to complete the strong first offensive inning of the game for NCU. Paisley Bennett, Jamie High, Holly Pieper and Megan Myers all recorded RBI hits in the inning as well.

Maranatha got another run in the second and added three more in the third to get within 12-6 before the Rams posted three more in the bottom of the frame. Rachael Thearin blasted her second home run of the day, a two-run shot, and Paisley Bennett belted a double that allowed a runner to score from first on a throw to the second bag.

Once again, MBU posted three runs in their part of the inning and the Rams were scoreless in the fourth to make it 15-9. North Central held the Crusaders scoreless in the top of the fifth and then plated four in the bottom of the inning to earn a five inning mercy rule victory.

With the bases loaded Meryn Garvey reached on a fielders choice that drove in a run and two batters later Jamie High smacked an RBI double that scored three runs and clinched the game for NCU. Rachael Thearin was 1-3 with the home run and a walk while earning the win in the pitching circle. Meryn Garvey was 2-4 with 4 RBI and a home run. Jamie High was 2-4 with 5 RBI while Paisley Bennett was 2-3 with a double and an RBI.

Game three was a tight game between NCU and Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) with a big inning for the Storm giving them the momentum they needed to take the 7-3 victory. With the game tied 1-1 after two innings NCU allowed the Storm five runs in the third and that proved to be enough the rest of the way.

The Rams got one run back in the third and another in the fifth but could not piece together the scoring to over come deficit. Leadoff batter Keshia Carpenter was an effective 2-3 with a walk and a run scored. Rachael Thearin was 1-3 with double and a walk. Paisley Bennett was 1-3 with an RBI double.

On the day Rachael Thearin was 4-9 with 3 walks, 5 RBI, 2 HR, a double and 5 runs scored from the clean-up spot. In the field she commited no errors with a putout and 12 assists at third base. She also earned her first pitching victory as a Ram.

North Central is off until next week when they are scheduled for games at Alverno College (Milwaukee, Wis.) on Wednesday.