NEW ULM, Minn. -- The North Central University (NCU) softball team traveled to Martin Luther College (MLC) on a cold Wednesday afternoon. This Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) doubleheader was the Rams' third doubleheader in five days. The Rams played a strong couple of games, but the high-seeded Knights eventually overtook NCU in both games on the afternoon.

Game One Recap

NCU stayed with their typical well-rounded defensive efforts led by first baseman Lindsey DeJong (St. Charles, MO, St. Charles High School). DeJong manufactured seven total outs. Rachel Loukinen (Little Falls, MN, Little Falls High School) led all assists for the Rams with three and also had one out of her own at second base. MLC scored early on in the first two innings, but that didn't make NCU back down. The Rams' offense turned on in the fourth inning. Lily Adams (White Bear Lake, MN, White Bear Lake Area High School) had two out of the Rams' three runs and catcher Emily Loop (Phelan, CA, Serrano High School) was able to tack on the other. Despite a solid effort from the NCU offense, the Knights managed to keep the lead throughout all five innings.

Game Two Recap

Game two showcased the Rams taking the lead with an early run by Selma Carrasco (El Paso, TX, Mountain View High School). NCU played a highly competitive game and took advantage of some balls from the MLC pitcher, tallying several walks to get runners in scoring position. Shortstop Megan Paulson (North Liberty, IA, Iowa City West High School) managed to find her way on, fueling North Central at the plate. On the defensive end, DeJong was vital to the Rams success as she had six outs at first base. Besides pitching excellently, Catherine SanMiguel (San Antonio, TX, Kaiserslautern High School) also assisted in three of DeJong's six outs. About halfway through the game, Adams made her way to the mound in relief of  SanMiguel. Ultimately, the Knights' second inning surge at the plate was enough to put the Rams away to come away with game two.

Key Performers

• Lily Adams had a superb offensive day with two runs and one RBI in both games.
• On the defensive end, Lindsey DeJong led the Rams with 13 total putouts. The freshman also had a 1-for-2 showing at the plate in game one.

Looking Ahead

After a lot of games in a short span of time, the NCU softball teams looks to rest in order to be ready for their next doubleheader, which is scheduled for next Monday. The Rams take on UMAC opponent the College of St. Scholastica at home at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Click here to access NCU's COVID-19 policy on fan attendance. Additionally, all Ram fans are encouraged to tune into official NCU Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for scheduling updates and any other important information.