MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Coming off a weekend full of games, the North Central University (NCU) softball team faced off with Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opponent, Martin Luther College (MLC), for an afternoon doubleheader. The Rams dropped both games to the Knights, first at 7-3 and then at 6-2.

Game One Recap

NCU pitcher, Sydney Harmon (Meno, OK), started out the game strong with two strikeouts in the first inning. Shortstop Kali Kahalekomo (Muncie, IN) finished the inning securing a grounder to first base. The Rams didn't have any offensive action in the first two innings and did the Knights. The third inning is when NCU connected with the ball to score two runs. Hosanna Gattle (Merrit Island, FL) singled right up the middle of the field to bring in Selma Carrasco (El Paso, TX, Mountain View High School) and then Brooke McGlinchey (Belle Plaine, MN) singled up the middle to bring in Delaney Riddle (Lake Stevens, WA). MLC bounced back immediately scoring two runs of their own. A combination of the Ram's infield and outfield contributed to stopping any offense from the Knights in the fifth inning. Kahalekomo ran home on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning to give NCU the lead late in the game. However, MLC had a monster of a sixth inning racking in five runs. While the Rams held off anymore hitting for the Knights in the seventh inning, they were unable to score themselves giving the win to MLC.

Game Two Recap

The second game started out almost identically the first game, with no scoring in the first two innings and two runs from the Rams in the bottom of the third inning. NCU ended the second inning with a nice double play as Gattle caught a pop up on the mound and threw it to Lindsey DeJong (St. Charles, MO, St. Charles High School) at first base to get the runner out. The Rams' two runs came off of a single from Aurora Prettyman (Portland, OR) in which both Gattle and Harmon ran home because of a MLC error. NCU continued in the lead throughout the fourth inning as their infield team took care of business. Hitters for the Rams did manage to get on base in the fourth inning but never made it home. The Knights recorded three runs in the fifth inning and another three runs in the sixth to gain the lead that was never obtained by NCU.

Key Performers

• Pitcher Sydney Harmon threw four strikeouts. Harmon also went three for three from the plate securing one RBI.
• Hosanna Gattle went four four eight in the two games bringing in one RBI and one run.
• In the second game, Aurora Prettyman recorded the Rams two RBI's.

Looking Ahead

The Rams take on the University of Northwestern this Friday, Apr. 29, at 4 p.m. at Northwestern. NCU has yet to take down Northwestern. All fans are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the baseball team and much more information.