Softball Rallies To Take Two against Southern Indiana and Illinois- Springfield

 OVERVIEW – Southern Indiana and Illinois-Springfield

SCORES: Northwood 5, Southern Indiana 4 / Northwood 5, Illinois-Springfield 1

RECORDS: Northwood 4-2, Southern Indiana 10-5 / Northwood 4-2, Illinois-Springfield 10-2

LOCATION: Jack C. Fischer Park – Owensboro, Ky. 

RECAP: The Timberwolves bounced back big on the final day of the Blue Bridge Battle by rallying in both games to beat Southern Indiana (5-4) and Illinois-Springfield (5-1). The T-Wolves scored six of their ten runs on the day in the sixth inning or later. In both games, NU took the lead and never looked back. It was a 4-2 final Blue Bridge Battle record for Northwood as they head back north to gear up for Florida.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS – Southern Indiana

• The Screaming Eagles started the scoring in the top half of the second with a 2 RBI single by starting pitcher Hailey Gotshell.
• It wasn't a long lead for USI as NU answered right back in a major way the next half inning. Madelin Skene led off with a walk followed by a Brynn Polega single and sac fly by Karlie Moore. 
• Madison Jordan then doubled to right center, scoring Polega. A walk and a pop-out later, the Timberwolves did some real damage with a two-RBI triple by Emily Mankel to take the lead at 4-2. 
• After a few scoreless innings, the Eagles were able to get runners on the corners via a triple and HBP. Simultaneously, a pitching change, a walk, and a two-RBI single later, the game was tied at four. 
• Gianna Fantin came up clutch for the T-Wolves as she singled up the middle to score Jillian Krawczak. That run ended up being the deciding run in the next inning.

GAME ONE STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 5/8/0, Southern Indiana 4/8/0
• Runners left on base: Northwood 7, Southern Indiana 6
• Winning Pitcher – Shayna Frank (2-1): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 4 K
• Losing Pitcher – Maddie Duncan (1-2): 4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 1 K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Mankel: 3-4, 2 RBI, 3B
• Polega: 2-3, R
• Jordan: 1-3, RBI, R, 2B
• Leister: 5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R (4 ER), ) BB, 3 K
• Fantin: 1-3, RBI

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS – Illinois-Springfield

• It was a pitcher's duel early on, as only one hit was produced by each team through the first four innings.
• UIS was the first to put a crooked number on the scoreboard as Grace Harris hit a blooper right behind the pitcher that caused an awkward mishap in the infield.
• As was common today, NU flexed their muscles when they were down.
• Karlie Moore led off the bottom of the sixth with a single to center before Madison Jordan reached on an error, and Gianna Fantin walked, then Haley Frank knocked two in on a single up the middle.
• Delanie Grundman then single to score Fantin, and Frank scored on a passed ball, putting the Timberwolves ahead 4-1.
• Alexis Koehler got an RBI single to left in the seventh to extend the lead to 5-1.
• The Timberwolves showed they will fight till the end, and they have the clutch ability to rally late.

GAME TWO STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 5/6/2, Illinois-Springfield 1/3/1
• Runners left on base: Northwood 2, Illinois-Springfield 5
• Winning Pitcher: Shayna Frank (3-1): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 8 K
• Losing Pitcher: Payton Long (4-1): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 2 K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• H. Frank: 1-3, 2 RBI, R
• Fantin: 1-3, R, BB
• Jordan: 1-3: 2 R
• Grundman: 1-3, RBI
• Koehler: 1-2, RBI
• S. Frank: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 8 K

UP NEXT

• Northwood will head out on their annual spring break trip to the Sunshine State next weekend (March 5-12). The Timberwolves will play 14 games over seven days to get themselves ready for conference play.