Northern offense ignites in must win games in Bemidji

Bemidji, Minn. (Northern State) – The Northern State University softball team scored 23 runs in their Saturday NSIC sweep at Bemidji State. The Wolves rallied from behind in game one and took control of the contest early in game two, keeping the postseason hopes alive.

THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 10, BSU 3
Final Score Game 2: NSU 13, BSU 4
Records: NSU 23-23 (9-17 NSIC), BSU 13-38 (7-21 NSIC)

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME 1

• A big seventh inning led to the Wolves first win of the day with nine runs on eight hits to regain the lead
• Northern scored their ten runs on 16 hits and suffered two defensive errors in the contest
• The Wolves scored first with a double by Claire Zbylut , plating Ashley Fauske in the first
• Bemidji State tied the contest in the third and took a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth
• Zbylut kicked off the scoring in the seventh with her second double of the contest, plating Taylor Coleman
• Kyra Knudtson followed with a game tying single to center, scoring Fauske and Elly Smith grabbed the lead for NSU on a single to left scoring Zbylut
• The Wolves then tacked on runs by Smith, Alexandria Arndt , Eden Ford , Lexi Chase , and Fauske to seal the victory
• Five Wolves tallied multiple hits in the win, led by Fauske and Zbylut with three apiece
• Lexi Chase threw a gem for Northern, giving up just one earned run on nine hits in her 14 ^th complete game of 2024

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Ashley Fauske : 3-for-4, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 1 double
• Claire Zbylut : 3-fot-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, 2 doubles, 1 stolen base
• Alexandria Arndt : 2-for-3, 1 run
• Elly Smith : 2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
• Lexi Chase : 1-for-3, 1 run, 7.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED | GAME 2

• It was the Beavers who scored first in game two, however the Wolves came out in the second with an offensive flurry
• Elly Smith led off the inning with a single through the left side and came around to score on a single to center by Ashley Fauske ; Liv Richardson also scored on the play after reaching on a fielders choice
• Claire Zbylut scored Lexi Chase , who notched a 2-out walk, on a single down the right field line, while Kyra Knudtson plated Fauske and Zbylut on a double to center
• Northern held the 5-1 lead but added a run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings
• In the third, Fauske single up the middle scoring Smith and Smith added the Wolves run in the fourth on a solo homerun
• It was Fauske again in the fifth, scoring Ford on a single through the left side
• The Wolves added another 5-spot in the top of the seventh with runs scored by Brooke Carlson , Grace Humann , Abby Meads , Fauske, and Zbylut
• BSU rallied with three runs in their final at-bats, however it was not enough to catch up with NSU
• Fauske had a day at the plate, going 4-for-4, with two runs and four RBI to lead the team
• Mckenzie Wanner stepped into the designated player role in game two, going 3-for-4 with a walk
• Abby Rux threw her fourth win of the season in a complete game with nine hits and four runs (three earned)

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Ashley Fauske : 4-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI
• Mckenzie Wanner : 3-for-4
• Elly Smith : 2-for-3, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 1 homerun
• Lexi Chase : 2-for-2, 1 run, 1 double
• Abby Rux : 7.0 innings pitched, 3 earned runs

UP NEXT
Northern State closes out the regular season tomorrow at Minnesota Crookston. Start times are scheduled for 12 and 2 p.m. versus the Golden Eagles. The Wolves remain in 11 ^th place in the league standings with two games to go. They are one game behind Southwest Minnesota State, who has concluded NSIC play and holds a 10-18 record this season.

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