SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Northwestern College softball team (33-9, 12-6 GPAC) swept the Defenders of Dordt University (20-15-1, 10-8 GPAC) and uphold their third-place position in the conference standings.
Game one saw another marvelous pitching performance from freshman Kate Kralik (Indianola, Iowa), she struck out 11 in the Raiders’ 3-1 win. The bats were hot for game two as the Raiders posted 10 runs and Kameryn Etherington (So., Algona, Iowa) continued the pitching dominance, holding Dordt to two runs.
GAME 1: Northwestern 3, Dordt 1
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kate Kralik (16-4)
Loss: A. Kraemer (15-8)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
Runs were hard to come by in this pitcher’s duel but the Raiders struck first via a Jordyn Kramer (Sr., Larchwood, Iowa) single to left field in the second inning, scoring Gwen Mikkelsen (Jr., Casa Grande, Ariz.).
With two outs in the fourth inning Erika McKenney (So., Hawarden, Iowa) worked a walk and Charli Bomgaars (Fr., Boyden, Iowa) came on to pinch run. A Jennifer Boeve (Jr., Hastings, Neb.) single allowed Bomgaars to advance to third and an error by the left fielder allowed her to score putting the Raiders ahead 2-0.
The Raiders tacked on a third run in the top of the fifth on a Mikkelsen solo homerun.
Dordt scored their lone run in the bottom of the seventh via a solo homerun.
Game Notes
The Raiders only notched five hits, but five errors by the Defenders allowed the Raiders to take extra bases.
Kralik threw a complete game only giving up two hits and one run. She struck out 11 and did not allow a walk.
Mikkelsen was part of two of the three Raider runs, scoring after a walk and on her solo homerun.
GAME 2: Northwestern 10, Dordt 2
Pitching Decisions
Win: Kameryn Etherington (17-4)
Loss: H. Wilken (2-4)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
The Raiders used a big first inning, scoring half of their runs in the first frame. Bri Giordano (Jr., Arroyo Grande, Calif.) tallied her first hit with a single to right field, scoring Boeve (1-0). Emily Strasser (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) followed with a bases loaded single to give the Raiders a 2-0 lead. Etherington hit a sacrifice fly to score Giordano (3-0). A hard hit ball by Kramer scored Mikkelsen to push the lead to four. Chloe Gallegos (Fr., Carroll, Iowa) hit a fly ball to center field, deep enough to score Strasser and give the Raiders a 5-0 lead.
Dordt would answer with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning but Etherington would get out of the inning without further damage, stranding two Defender runners.
The top of the fifth saw a few more runs by the Raiders. Mikkelsen doubled to score Giordano, extending the lead to 6-2. With the bases loaded Giordano roped a double to center, scoring all three runners (9-2). Madysn Grotewold (So., Larchwood, Iowa) would punch a single to left field to push the tenth run across.
Game Notes
Giordano had a stellar 4-4 night, including four RBIs and two doubles. She is leading the Raiders with three-hit games this season.
Mikkelsen also tallied a three-hit game, including two doubles of her own.
Etherington threw a complete game, earning her 17th win of the season. She only allowed two runs and struck out nine batters.
STAT OF THE GAME: 6 – The Raiders combined for six extra base hits in the two wins tonight.
Up Next: The Raiders will play their rescheduled doubleheader against Briar Cliff tomorrow, April 27, in Sioux City, Iowa beginning at 3:00 p.m.
