MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.-- North Central fell behind early in game one and could not recover and a late rally in game two came up short in a pair of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference losses to The University of Northwestern on Tuesday afternoon. North Central struggled to get their offense in gear in a 12-1 loss in the opener and could not got make enough plays in a 11-9 loss in game two.

North Central found themselves down 11-0 after three innings in the first game with The University of Northwestern on Tuesday afternoon at East Phillips Park. They got a run across in the fourth but the Eagles added another run of their own in a 12-1 final scoreline in five innings. North Central recorded just three hits with sophomore Jamie High (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo) going 2-2 and driving in the Rams only run.

Game two was a different experience for the Rams who jumped out 3-2 after the first inning. But the Eagles gained control with three in the second and six in the third and it looked like another run rule victory was on the way. But NCU began chipping away in the fourth inning.

Senior Paisley Bennett (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) got things going with a single through the left side to lead off the inning. Senior Rachel Powell singled and then her and the base runner advanced on a throw. Sophomore Amanda Johnson (Burnsville, Minn./Apple Valley) then grounded out to score Bennett. With one out senior Keishia Carpentier (Coon Rapids, Minn./Anoka-Ramsey CC), freshman Holly Pieper (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) and sophomore Megan Myers (Cannon Falls, Minn./Randolf) then all singled and Carpentier scored on Myers' hit. Senior Rachael Thearin (Hayward, Wis./Hayward) then smacked a double that scored Pieper and got NCU to within 11-6.

North Central then held Northwestern off the score board for the rest of the game and began to fight back offensively. They added a run in the top of the fifth when Keishia Carptentier reached on a fielders choice that also scored Paisley Bennett from third on an error. With the score 11-7, the rams would go back to work in the sixth.

Rachael Thearin doubled for her second straight at bat to lead off the sixth and sophomre Meryn Garvey (Des Moines, Iowa/Roosevelt) then singled to left to score Thearin. Then with two outs Amanda Johnson the singled to score Jamie High from third and the Rams went into the last inning down just 11-9.

But the Eagles got the final three outs to turn the Rams away in the seventh. Five Rams recorded a pair of hits including Rachael Thearin who was 2-5 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. Paisley Bennett was 2-3 with an RBI. Amanda Johnson was 2-4 with 2 RBI. Keishia Carpentier and Holly Pieper were each 2-4 in the first and second spots in line-up.

The Rams are scheduled to be back in action on Thursday at Bethany Lutheran College (Mankato, Minn.). The first pitch of the double-header with the Vikings is scheduled for 3 p.m.