MINNEAPOLIS - Through the clouds and cold North Central softball (0-18, 0-4 UMAC) hosted Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opponent, St. Scholastica (8-10, 2-0 UMAC) in a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon in East Phillips Park. Despite the the chants and cheers, the Rams fell to the Saints in both games, 16-0 and 32-2, respectively. Both games ended after five innings as North Central's offense couldn't keep up the pace with the Saints dominate hitting. Kylee Bommerbach (Sartell, Minn./Sartell) pitched both games for the Rams following an injury to starting pitcher, Amanda Roth. Scholastica jumped out to an early lead in both games controlling the tempo from the beginning. 

How It Happened

Game 1: Through the first two innings the Rams limited the Saints to only three runs. However, in the third inning the Saints bats went to work scoring six runs and seven hits. Again the fourth inning six runs scored for the Saints with the score 15-0 going into the fifth and final inning. Top of the fifth, the Rams held the Saints to only one run before the bottom of the inning. Danelle Pageler (Warren, Minn./Warren-Alvarado-Oslo) singled up the middle for the Rams only hit of the day before the Saints struck out the side and ended the game after five innings, 16-0. Scholastica struck out 12 batters to North Central's two. North Central also tallied three errors before the final pitch.

Game 2: In game two, the Rams were able to get their offense going and on the scoreboard but so did Scholastica. Through five innings, the Saints more than doubled the Rams at-bat attempts leading to 24 runs through the first two innings. Things began to slow down in the third when the Rams held the Saints to five runs in the top of the innings. In the bottom of the inning, Bommersbach and Alex Rodriguez (Minneapolis, Minn./Homeschooled) were walked before Abbey Erzberger (Milwaukee, Wis./Heritage Christian) reached on a fielder's choice and Bommersbach being forced out at third. Back-to-back singles from Nora Sullivan (Naperville, Ill./Matea Valley) and Maddie Parrow (Coon Rapids, Minn./Blaine) sent both Rodriguez and Erzberger home for the Rams. Scholastica led 29-2 through three. The Saints would add another three runs between the fourth and fifth inning to end the game 32-2. Bommersbach had the advantage on strikeouts in the second game with five to Scholastica's two.

Up Next: North Central softball will be back in action this weekend on Saturday April 8 when they travel to The University of Northwestern-St. Paul for a doubleheader, conference matchup with the Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn. The Rams will then travel to New Ulm, Minn. on Tuesday April 11 for a 3:30 p.m. and a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader with the Martin Luther Knights.