MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The North Central University (NCU) softball team kicked off their first day of a mini Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) weekend tournament. NCU first played and lost to Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) 12-4. Then in the afternoon Martin Luther College (MLC) narrowly beat the Rams 11-10 in extra innings.

Game One Recap

The Rams were unlucky in the first inning but the Vikings scored three runs themselves in the same inning. In the second inning, both Kali Kahalekomo (Muncie, IN) and Selma Carrasco (El Paso, TX, Mountain View High School) scored off of a BLC error. Then Katelynn Fox (Hedesville, WV) scored after a hit by Sydney Harmon (Meno, OK) to tie things up at three. The Vikings quickly broke that tie with two in the second inning and two more in the third. The fourth inning gave the Rams their next run as Emma Cochran (Chewelah, WA) made her way around the bases after a few wild pitches from BLC's pitcher. But the Vikings kept up their outstanding offensive efforts to score three runs in the fourth inning and two final runs in the fifth inning to take down NCU 12-4.

Game Two Recap

MLC scored four runs off the bat but was met with one run from Delaney Riddle (Lake Stevens, WA) off a Aurora Prettyman (Portland, OR) single. Furthermore, the Rams shut down the Knights in the second inning and used this momentum to score five runs. Carrasco and Lindsey DeJong (St. Charles, MO, St. Charles High School) both scored off of MLC errors. Harmon also made it home along with Cochran off a Riddle single and the Riddle off a Gattle single. The Knights recorded two runs in the third inning but the Rams fought right back as Cochran doubled to left field letting Harmon score again and tying the game up at seven. The fourth and fifth inning saw good fielding from both teams as neither allowed a single run. NCU pushed ahead in the sixth inning when Prettyman singled to right field giving Brooke McGlinchey (Belle Plaine, MN) a path to home plate and then Prettyman also found her way home as Carla Mendoza (Ridgecrest, CA) doubled to center field. At the top of the seventh inning, MLC scored three runs to put them ahead by one going into the bottom of the last regulation inning. Riddle singled to bring home Cochran to send the game into extra innings. However, the Knights scored quickly in the eighth inning and the Rams were unable to produce another run.

NCU now stands at 11-22 on the season and 2-12 in the conferences.

Key Performers

• In the first game, Emma Cochran added in two RBI's and one run.
• Against the Knights, Delaney Riddle hit for two RBI's and two runs.
• Aurora Prettyman recorded two RBI's and one run in the second game.

Looking Ahead

The Rams continue the UMAC tournament tomorrow, Saturday Apr. 23, with a game against the University of Wisconsin Superior at 12 p.m. and a game against Northland College at 4 p.m. NCU lost previously to both teams. All fans are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the softball team and much more information. Read Full Article