MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The North Central University (NCU) softball team competed against their first Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opponent of the year, the University of the Northwestern (UNW). Ranked second in the conference preseason poll, the Eagles proved themselves with two wins, first at 19-2, and then again at 10-2.

Game One Recap

In the first inning, both the Eagles and the Rams were quickly shut down on offense. NCU's Delaney Riddle (Lake Stevens, WA) tripled to right field but had the inning end on her before she was able to get home. The second inning was even quicker than the first with both fielding teams throwing three fast outs. The third inning saw the first offensive action from both teams as UNW scored two runs and NCU one run after Brooke McGlinchey (Belle Plaine, MN) tripled to right field and was brought in by a hit from Sydney Harmon (Meno, OK). The Eagles scored three more times in the fourth and fifth innings. The Rams got their next run in the fifth inning after Isabella Gallardo (Austin, TX) doubled to right field sending McGlinchey home for the second time of the day. The Eagles banged out four more runs in the sixth inning stretching the lead to 9-2. NCU was unable to connect with the ball in the last two innings and after a surge of offense from UNW, the Rams take their first UMAC loss of the season.

Game Two Recap

The Rams held the Eagles scoreless in the first inning by some great fielding by both the outfield and the infield. However, UNW came back in the next three innings to score eight unanswered runs. The Ealges then went on to score twice more in the final innings. NCU never let up and kept pushing back against UNW and scored two runs in the fifth inning. Aurora Prettyman (Portland, OR) doubled to right field and was brough home off of a single by Emma Cochran (Chewelah, WA). Following that run, Gallardo tripled to right field to bring in Cochran to score another run. These two runs were ultimately unable to surpass the hitting of the Eagles.

NCU nows stands with a 7-12 recorded, 0-2 in the conference. 

Key Performers

• Centerfileder Isaballa Gallardo went two for three from the plate with one RBI. She recroded another RBI in the second game.
• Lindsey added nine outs at first base.
• McGlinchey went two for two from the plate adding in two runs.

Looking Ahead

The Rams continue the season with more UMAC action, this time against the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Tuesday with games at 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. All fans are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the softball schedule and much more information.