Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Walsh

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University softball team splits the 2014 home opener against Walsh Saturday afternoon (April 5). The Timberwolves earned a 9-5 win in game one before falling 4-3 in game two.

The Timberwolves are now 13-9 on the season, 4-2 in the GLIAC. The Cavaliers are 16-11 on the year, 6-4 in the GLIAC.

Game one saw Northwood fall behind early as the Cavaliers knocked in a two-run homer to start off the first inning. Leading off the second, Walsh increased their lead to 3-0 on another homerun to center field. Senior

Stacey Klonowski (Canton, Mich./Plymouth) answered in the bottom of a second with a lead-off homerun. Later in the inning both Natalie Lampman (Madison Heights, Mich. / Bishop Foley) and Brittany Merner (Solon, Ohio) crossed the plate to tie the game at 3-3. In the next inning, with two runners on base, Klonowski stepped to the plate and hit her second dinger of the day and fourth of the season. In the bottom of the fifth, the senior third baseman – Lampman – followed suit hitting her own two-run homerun and increased NU's lead 8-3. Sophomore Jessica Tostrud (Kenosha, Wisc. / Mary D. Bradford) singled to center field with bases loaded earning her seventh RBI of the season in the bottom of the sixth. The Cavaliers plated two runs in the top of the seventh, but the Timberwolves were able to hold out for the win. Casey Brown faced nine batters in two complete innings pitched before Maddison Sebald (Bay City, Mich./Western) entered the game to earn her seventh win of the season. Sebald faced 23 batters with four strikeouts in five innings. Klonowski earned four RBI's on two homeruns in the game. Ashley Lynn (Garden City, Mich.) went 3-3 and Tostrud finished the game 2-3 from the plate.

In game two, Northwood was the team to get on the board early with a sacrifice bunt by Lindsay Obremski (DuBois, Pa./Dubois Area) scoring Lynn in the top of the first. Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when the Cavaliers tied the game 1-1. Lynn crossed the plate for the second time in the top of the sixth before Tostrud plated NU's third run of the game in the top of the seventh. Walsh rallied back in the bottom of the seventh to score three runs and earn a 4-3 win. Freshman Vanessa Ewing (Dundee, Mich.) started and pitched against 28 batters, recording seven strikeouts in the effort. Obremski and Sam Zaborowski (Taylor, Mich./Cabrini) each picked up an RBI in the loss. Tostrud recorded a double and scored a run in the game.

Northwood is scheduled to take on Lake Erie tomorrow (April 6). First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:00 p.m.