Softball Opens G-MAC Play With Sweep Of Walsh

OVERVIEW – Walsh

SCORES: Northwood 8, Walsh 0 / Northwood 2, Walsh 1

RECORDS: Northwood (11-7, 2-0 G-MAC), Walsh (4-12, 0-2 G-MAC)

LOCATION: Fisher Stadium – Midland, Mich.

RECAP: Northwood softball hosted Walsh in their 2025 home opener on Friday (March 14). The Timberwolves ran away with game one early, winning in five innings 8-0. They later battled for a game-two walk-off win 2-1 to get the G-MAC opening sweep.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Timberwolves ran away with game one, scoring eight runs in their half of the second.
• Saylar Cuthrell started the scoring with a two-run double over the center fielder's head. Gianna Fantin and Gage Lambert scored on the play, 2-0 NU.
• Gabby Schloop followed her with a two-run single down the left field line, scoring Payton Schafsnitz and Cuthrell, 4-0 NU.
• Northwood continued to pile on, RBI singles from Delanie Gale and Ashley Ziel extended the lead to 6-0.
• Sac flies from Fantin and Schafsnitz capped off the huge eight-run inning, 8-0 NU.
• Brynn Polega continued her hot stretch moving her record to 6-1 as the Timberwolves shut out the Cavaliers, 8-0 in five innings.

GAME ONE STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 3/11/0, Walsh 0/3/2
• Runners left on base: Northwood 6, Walsh 4
• Winning Pitcher – Brynn Polega (6-1) 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 K
• Losing Pitcher – Chloe Sayre (1-3) 1 IP, 7 H, 7 R (6 ER), BB

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Gale: 2-3, 2B, RBI, R
• Cuthrell: 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, R
• Schloop: 1-2, 2 RBI, R
• Lambert: 1-2, BB, R
• Robinson: 2-3
• Ziel: 1-3, RBI, R
• Lundquist: 2-3, R

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Teams were scoreless going into the third. Walsh's leadoff got aboard with a single through the left side before a bunt single and fielder's choice put runners on the corners with two outs. The Cavs took the 1-0 lead with a two-out single.
• Northwood's offense looked off balance during the middle part of the game, going down in order in the fourth and fifth.
• Kamden Binney kept it a 1-0 ballgame going into the seventh. Northwood's offense managed just two hits before a Walsh defensive miscue kept the game alive. Schafsnitz came through with a sac fly, tying it in the seventh, 1-1.
• Binney stayed in and finished the eighth, giving NU a chance to walk it off. A two-out single from Gale started the rally. Ashley Ziel came up huge, singling to right center, forcing the defender to leave her feet. Gale would score with a play at the plate to give NU the 2-1 victory.

GAME TWO STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 2/5/0, Walsh 1/6/1
• Runners left on base: Northwood 4, Walsh 6
• Winning Pitcher – Kamden Binney (3-2) 8 IP, 1 R (1 ER), BB, 3 K
• Losing Pitcher – Macy Smythe (1-5) 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), BB

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Gale: 2-4, 2B, R
• Ziel: 1-3, RBI, BB
• Schloop: 1-2, BB

UP NEXT

• Northwood softball heads to Detroit to face off with regional foe Wayne St. (Mich.) Wednesday (March 19). The doubleheader is set to start at 3 p.m. at Gary L. Bryce Field/WSU Softball Stadium.