Softball Wins 7-0 Over Philadelphia To Close Out Florida Trip

CLERMONT, FLA. – The Northwood University softball team closed out the 2016 spring break trip in Florida with a 7-0 win over Philadelphia after losing to Cedarville 3-2 on Saturday morning (March 12).

The Timberwolves currently stand at 8-6 on the year. CU is now 6-9 while PU is 2-2 overall.

NU was first to get on the board, scoring a pair of runs on an Andria Gietl (Plymouth, Mich. / Ladywood) single in the bottom of the third. From there, neither team was able to cross the plate until Cedarville hit a two-run home run in the sixth to tie the game. With a runner on second, CU stole third and scored on an NU throwing error in the seventh to pull ahead 3-2. The Timberwolves had a chance in the bottom of the inning to tie the game with a runner on base and no outs. On a fielder's choice, NU was picked off at second after reaching the base on a very unusual play. NU followed with two straight outs for the loss.

For the game, Jennifer Wontorcik (Midland, Mich. / Midland) went 2-3 with a pair of doubles. Hayley D'Avilar (Georgetown, Ont./Christ the King Catholic Secondary) hit 2-3, while Gietl finished with a pair of RBI's on 1-3 batting. Vanessa Ewing (Maybee, Mich./Dundee) came in to pitch seven strikeouts against 26 batters.

In game two, neither team was able to plate a run as there wasn't more than a single hit per inning through five and a half. NU loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, which led to some Northwood scoring. Gietl picked up an RBI on a single off the foot of the pitcher before Jessica Tostrud (Kenosha, Wisc./Mary D. Bradford) hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Ashley Lynn (Garden City, Mich.). Wontorcik then picked up a pair of RBI's on a triple to left field. Wontorcik then scored on a passed ball to put NU ahead 5-0 going into the sixth.

In the following inning, Courtney Wensley (Dearborn, Mich. / Dearborn) scored on a Laura Walton (Clare, Mich. / Clare) RBI before Karli Godlewski (Shelby Township, Mich. / Lutheran North) got her first career hit for an RBI to score Brooke Wauters (St. Clare Shores, Mich./Lakeshore). Godlewski followed that with a diving play in the outfield to keep Cedarville off the board in the bottom of the seventh.

Casey Brown (Hudson, Ohio / Hudson) is now 3-0 on the year in the circle, facing 24 batters with four strike outs after pitching the shutout. Wauters scored two runs on a hit and a walk, while Lynn was walked twice and scored once. NU out-hit CU 8-3 and drew five walks.

Northwood returns home next week to play host to the Davenport Panthers on Saturday (March 19). The game is slated for 1 p.m. Game times and location throughout the season are subject to change. Be sure to check the NU athletics website (www.gonorthwood.com) for all schedule updates.