Northwestern Splits On Opening Day Of GPAC Softball Tournament

The Northwestern College softball team (37-10-1, 15-6-1 GPAC) earned a split on day one of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) tournament.

Game one saw the Raiders score early and often to earn the five inning, 8-0, win over Concordia (Neb.) University. Game two was a pitchers’ duel until the sixth inning and the Lancer of Mount Marty used the long ball to prevail 3-5 over Northwestern.

GAME 1: Northwestern 8, Concordia 0
The Raiders opened things up with three big runs in the first inning. Gwen Mikkelsen (Jr., Casa Grande, Ariz.) singled up the middle to score the first run. Jordyn Kramer (Sr., Larchwood, Iowa) followed that up with a homerun to push the Raider lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the first.

The third inning saw the Raiders tack on three more. Mikkelsen smacked another single up the middle to score two more runs and push the lead to 5-0.

Bri Giordano (Jr., Arroyo Grande, Calif.) added to the Raider run total with a double to push the lead to six.

Sydnee Isom (Jr., Fillmore, Calif.) finished the game with a single to left field, scoring two more Raiders and finishing off the five inning 8-0 win.

Game Notes
Etherington threw a complete game shutout. She only allowed five hits and struck out four batters on her way to pick up her 20th win of the season.
Giordano and Jennifer Boeve (Jr., Hastings, Neb.) both doubled in the game, tying them atop the single season double record standings with 19.
Mikkelsen led the Raiders with three RBIs; Kramer and Isom also had multiple RBIs with two a piece.

GAME 2: Mount Marty, 5, Northwestern 3

Pitching Decisions
Win: Kameryn Etherington (20-5)
Loss: K. Rogers (11-16)
Save: N/A

How It Happened
The Lancers got on the board first on a sacrifice bunt, scoring the runner on first. They followed that up with a double to go ahead 2-0 in the top of the second inning.

The Raiders would respond with a run off of a Giordano single to right field (1-2).

Mount Marty started to use the long ball to build momentum, hitting two solo homeruns in the sixth inning to take a three-run lead.

Northwestern would match the Lancers and put up two runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Chloe Gallegos (Fr., Carroll, Iowa) would single to cut the lead to two (2-4). Etherington would reach on a fielder’s choice on a bunt attempt and Brooke Zylstra (So., Hull, Iowa) would score to make it a one run game.

Another Lancer home run would give them a much needed insurance (3-5) run heading into the bottom of the seventh. After two quick outs the Raider bats would no go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Mikkelsen would single to right field and Kramer would follow that up with another single. With two on and two outs it was not meant to be as a pop up would end the game 3-5.

Game Notes
Etherington would get the start in the circle and only allow two hits, two runs, and struck out one in two innings pitched.

Kate Kralik (Fr., Indianola, Iowa) would take over for the final five innings and only allow four hits, she struck out six batters and allowed three runs.

The Raiders would leave nine runners on base in their second game of the day.
Mikkelsen, Kramer, and Strasser notched multi-hit games.

The Raiders out-hit the Lancers, 11-6, for the game.

STAT OF THE GAME:
19 – Giordano and Boeve both continue to chase each other for the program’s single season double record, breaking the previous individual season record of 17.

Up Next: Both the Midland and Northwestern Pods for the GPAC Softball Tournament have postponed play for Thursday.