UMAC Game of the Week: Northwestern vs. St. Scholastica - Softball
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each week during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
The Matchup
Saturday, April 6 - College of St. Scholastica at University of Northwestern, softball, 1 and 3 p.m. in St. Paul, Minnesota.
POSTPONED TO APRIL 10, AGAIN TO APRIL 15
Northwestern won game one, 5-2; St. Scholastica won game two, 5-4 in 10 innings
What's at Stake
- Championship hopes - Northwestern was tabbed to win its first UMAC title since 2008 taking the UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with 62 points and six first-place votes. St. Scholastica looks to win an 11th-straight regular season title and was just behind Northwestern in the Poll with 58 points and two first-place votes.
- Postseason rematch - Last May, Northwestern spoiled St. Schoalstica's season in the UMAC Championship as it cruised to three big wins in the tournament knocking out the Saints to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Saints will look for revenge early in the year in hopes of holding onto their spot atop the conference.
- Playoff positioning - Both squads dropped a pair of games Wednesday to playoff teams a year ago, meaning these games have even more weight as they'll be critical when it comes to potentially clinching postseason berths and positions.
Previously in Action
- Northwestern hit the road Wednesday and dropped both games to Bethany Lutheran College. The Eagles fell 5-0 in the opener before going down 9-1 in the second game.
- St. Scholastica dropped two games at home to bridge rival University of Wisocnisn-Superior Wednesday. The Saints lost 2-0 in the opener before giving up a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning to force extra innings and losing 4-3.
Need to Know
- Last season - In 2018, the Eagles and Saints split their regular season series in Duluth, but the Eagles took both games in the postseason tournament allowing the Saints just a total of four runs in two games. The two teams have split their regular season games in each of the last two years.
- Team strengths - Northwestern is among the top three offensive teams in the early going of conference play with a .400 team average. However, a majority of the Eagles' offense came in two blowouts of Northland College last Saturday. St. Scholastica hasn't really gotten its offense going, but its pitching has been on point with the second-best team earned run average (ERA) of 2.41 through four games.
Players to Watch - Northwestern,
- Mindy Forcier, Sr., OF - All-UMAC last season; UMAC Stats: .533 avg., 8 hits, 7 runs (1st), 5 RBI, 1.133 slg%, .563 OB%
- Kayla Madison, So., IF - Honorable Mention last season; UMAC Stats: .500 avg., 6 hits, 6 runs, .667 slg%, 5 RBI, .600 OB%
- Ellie Ronning, So., IF - UMAC Stats: .538 avg., 7 hits, 6 runs, 4 2B, 10 RBI (1st), 1.308 slg%, .600 OB%
Players to Watch - St. Scholastica
- Nicole Anders, So., U - UMAC Stats: .462 avg., 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 2B, 2 RBI, .615 slg%, .533 OB% 7-of-7 SB (1st)
- Josie Fouree, So., IF - UMAC Stats: .417 avg., 5 hits, 2 RBI, .500 OB%
- Olivia Howe, Fy., P - UMAC Stats: 2.00 ERA, .298 opp. avg., 14.0 IP, 7 SO
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2018-19 Game of the Week Archives