Sioux City, Iowa — The Northwestern College softball team had its five-game win streak snapped as they lost a pair of games to No.11 Morningside 6-1 and 8-3.
The Raiders enter the final week of the regular season tied with Jamestown for third place in the conference standings with a 12-6 record, 25-11 overall.
Game One: 6-1 loss
The Mustangs struck first, pushing three runs across in the bottom of the first inning. Mykel Gray drew a one-out walk, advanced to second on a single by Breanna Tjebben; both players scored on double from Morgan Nixon. Nixon came across home plate after a single by Carson Cameron for a 3-0 lead. Morningside added a fourth run in the bottom of the second on a double steal. Northwestern broke through for its only run in the third after walks to Madysn Grotewold and Emily Bosch, who advanced to third a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Mouw; Bosch later scored on a stolen base. The Mustangs plated two insurance runs in the sixth. Kameryn Etherington (16-4) gave up seven hits, four runs and stuck out three in four innings.
Northwestern totaled three hits, a double by Bosch and singles from Jennifer Boeve and Jordyn Kramer. Lisa Bolton (17-0) stayed unbeaten, improving to 17-0, with a complete-game three hitter. Morningside totaled 11 hits from eight different players, Nixon and Lexie Stolen had two hits each.
Game Two: 8-3 loss
Northwestern went ahead on a two-run home run by Emily Strassser in the top of the first inning; her seventh of the season. Morningside answered right back in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run from Tjebben. A solo home run by Etherington with one out in the second gave Northwestern its final lead, 3-2. Three more runs pushed across in the home half of the second put Morningside in front for good. Cropley belted a two-run home run and Ashton Whited added an RBI single. Morningside added a run in the fifth when Taylor Richter was hit by a pitch, scoring Andi Hays. Nixon added a two-run double in the sixth, giving Morningside an 8-3 lead
Northwestern had six hits, led by Strasser (2/3) and Etherington (1/2, RBI). Samantha Ubben (7-7) took the loss, giving up eight hits and seven runs in 4.1 innings. Alex Nelson (11-2) earned the win, giving up two hits and one run in four innings; one of three Morningside pitchers. Nixon led the Mustangs offense with three hits; Cropley and Tjebben added two hits each
