Northfield softball picks itself up with 3 straight wins

After losing three consecutive games, the Northfield High School softball team returned to the win column this past week with three consecutive victories in Big 9 Conference play.

The week started for Northfield with a 9-8 win at Rochester Mayo on Tuesday, April 23 and continued back at Rock Field with a 1-0 victory over Rochester Century on Thursday, April 25. Northfield then added its third consecutive win with a 7-4 decision at Red Wing on Monday, April 29.

The three wins moves the Raiders’ record to 7-5, 6-2 Big 9. Northfield placed at Albert Lea on Tuesday, April 30 and will continued its season on Thursday, May 2 with a home game against Red Wing.

In the win over Mayo, Northfield scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. Mayo then replied with three runs in the third inning and one run in the fourth inning to go up 5-3. After two scoreless innings, Northfield added two runs in the seventh inning to force extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, Northfield scored twice but Mayo charged back with two more runs to tie the game again at 7-7. In the top of the ninth inning, Northfield posted a pair of runs and managed to limit Mayo to one run in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the 9-8 win.

At the plate, Northfield outhit Mayo by a 15-7 margin. Kennedy Larsen was the pitcher of record for Northfield with six innings pitched in relief of starter Kristen Hafemeyer. Larsen had 12 strikeouts to her credit in the game.

At the plate, Grace Mostad, Lindsey Erickson and Leah Enedy all had home runs for the Raiders. Enedy ended the game with a team leading four RBIs. She also had two hits in the game along with Mostad, Ellie Capatina, Rita Langford and Emma Peroutka (who also had three runs scored).

Back home against Century, Northfield won the contest with a solo run in the fifth inning. The run was scored by Peroutka on an RBI by Mostad. The Raiders outhit Century 4-3 in the game. Mostad went the distance for Northfield in the game with seven innings pitched. She had nine strikeouts and allowed just three hits in the game.

To finish the week, Northfield gained a 7-4 win at Red Wing on April 29 as the Raiders rallied with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure the win. Northfield outhit the Wingers 10-3 in the contest as Hafemeyer gained the win with six strikeout and three hits allowed.

Capatina and Erickson each had home runs in the contest, while Hafemeyer also starred at the plate with three hits and three runs. Erickson also had three RBIs in the game and Mostad added two hits.