Maple Grove, MN -- North Central University (NCU) Softball continued their series against the University of Northwestern (UNW) Eagles today in a doubleheader. The Rams fell to the Eagles to kick off their series yesterday with a final score of 23-0 as they were held scoreless. This afternoon, the Rams would be swept by the Eagles as they were defeated in both games with scores of 17-1 and 23-1.
Game 1: NCU 1, UNW 17
North Central's lone run came in the fourth inning, sparked by a leadoff single from
Addison Schroer, who later came around to score.
Kaitlyn Havens added a hit of her own to move Schroer into scoring position, and catcher
Aurora Prettyman laid down a key sacrifice bunt. First baseman
Erica Gilles picked up the RBI on a fielder's choice, giving the Rams a bright spot in the frame. Despite a relentless offensive showing from the opponent, North Central managed to hold them scoreless in the fourth, showing grit on defense. Schroer battled through all five innings in the circle, facing a heavy lineup and throwing 128 pitches. Offensively,
Delaney Riddle and Havens both added hits, and Schroer helped herself with her knock. Defensively, NCU struggled to handle the offensive firepower of the Eagles' as they committed 4 costly errors. The Rams' effort in the field was highlighted by a double play in the second inning that temporarily stalled the visiting team's momentum. The first game of the doubleheader resulted in a score of 17-1 with the Eagles coming out victorious.
Game 2: NCU 1, UNW 23
In the second game of the day, senior shortstop
Isabela Gallardo provided the offensive highlight for the Rams with a deep triple to left field in the third inning. Her aggressive baserunning forced pressure on the defense, and she came around to score on a wild pitch.
Maggie Kohl also chipped in with a single in the second, continuing one of NCU's two hits in the contest. Defensively, North Central tightened up after the early innings, holding the visiting team scoreless in the third and fifth innings with some alert infield play and a couple of strong catches in the outfield.
Addison Schroer again pitched a complete game for the Rams, showing resilience even as the opposing offense remained aggressive throughout. Prettyman caught both ends of the doubleheader and absorbed a heavy workload behind the plate, while Gallardo reached base twice and played steady defense at short. Despite their best efforts, the Rams were defeated by the Eagles for the third time as they fell 23-1.
Top Performers:
Looking Ahead:
NCU will host another series next weekend against the Crown College (CC) Polars on Friday, March 28th at 4:00 PM.
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