ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. -- After a week of postponed games, the North Central University (NCU) softball team finally took the field against Crown College (CC). The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) event saw two highly competitive teams split the doubleheader with the Storm taking the first 10-8 and the Rams taking the second 9-6.

Game One Recap

NCU got off to a quiet start but CC scored twice in the first inning. The Rams responded with five runs of their own in the next inning. Hosanna Gattle (Merrit Island, FL) and Lily Adams (White Bear Lake, MN, White Bear Lake Area High School) scored first off of a Storm error followed by a run from Selma Carrasco (El Paso, TX, Mountain View High School) on a passed ball. Next, Sydney Harmon (Meno, OK) singled bringing in Aurora Prettyman (Portland, OR) followed by a tag up run from Harmon. The Storm scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead by one run. In the fourth inning, an Isabella Gallardo (Austin, TX) stolen base triggered a run from Harmon. Following this was a single from Delaney Riddle (Lake Stevens, WA) where Gallardo found her way home. CC scored twice more, still leading by one. The Rams tied it all up in the top of the sixth inning when Nichelle Henderson (Brooklyn Park, MN, Park Center High School) reached home off of an error. But the Storm ultimately prevailed off of a homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game by two.

Game Two Recap

The Storm started off the second game quite strong with four runs in the first inning. However, NCU game back with four runs of their own in the second inning. Emma Cochran (Chewelah, WA) singled and brought home Carrasco. Gallardo then singled bringing Prettyman past home plate. And to finish off the second inning, Riddle doubled to bring in Gallardo and Cochran to even up the score at four. In the following inning, Carrasco doubled to bring in two more runs to put the Rams ahead by two. CC scored just one run in the bottom of the third inning but was met with more runs from NCU. Lindsey DeJong (St. Charles, MO, St. Charles High School) singled in the fifth inning to bring Kali Kahalekomo (Muncie, IN) home followed by a Cochran single to bring in DeJong. In the sixth inning, DeJong was walked with loaded bases resulting in a Riddle score making the score 9-5 in favor of NCU. The Storm managed to get another run in the seventh inning but the Rams quickly shut down CC with three quick outs and a victory on the day.

After today, NCU moves to 8-13 on the season and 1-3 in conference play.

Key Performers

• With one RBI and two runs, Sydney Harmon went three for four from the plate in the first game.
• Lindsey DeJong went two for three from the plate recording two RBI's and one run in the second game. DeJong also had eight put outs at first base.
• Delaney Riddle added three RBI's in the first game. Hitting one double, Riddle went two for two batting with two RBI's and one run in the second game.

Looking Ahead

The Rams have a busy week ahead of them coming up starting off with a makeup home doubleheader against the University of Wisconsin Superior Tuesday Apr. 12 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 team and much more information.