Northwestern holds off tourney host for second-straight UMAC softball postseason title
MANKATO, Minn.---The University of Northwestern has proven in back-to-back seasons that it is truly a "tournament team" after defeating No. 1 Bethany Lutheran College 5-0 Saturday to cruise through yet another Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) softball tournament in undefeated fashion for a second-straight tournament championship.
The Eagles came into the UMAC tournament as the No. 4 seed to win four games and hold off a Bethany Lutheran squad that lost just once to UMAC opponents this season. The back-to-back champs outscored their opponents 20-6 in four games and will now represent the UMAC in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second time in as many seasons.
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After a low-scoring win over No. 3 College of St. Scholastica Friday afternoon, the Eagles came out firing to start the game Saturday with a lead off single from Mindy Forcier. Ellie Ronning singled two batters later to get two runners. The bases were then loaded for designated player Briggs Carlson who singled through the left side to bring home Kayla Madison. Megan Aasness was then hit by a pitch to send Ronning in to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Zoe Kinakin singled to get a runner on for the Vikings in the bottom half of the inning, but that was all the offense for either team through the next two innings. in the bottom of the third, the Vikings had their best opportunity to score after pitcher Bria Majeski led off with a single. Sarah Presler then singled to center to put two runners on for Kinakin who singled to right field. However, Ciara Scheithauer made a play on the ball to throw out Courtney Williams at home plate. A ground out ended the inning with no damage done.
Both teams were scoreless through the fourth inning, and then Northwestern added to it's lead when Ronning hit her first of two home runs for the game to make it 3-0. The Eagles then held the Vikings for two innings to set up a two-run top of the seventh. Faith Forceir tallied a lead-off double and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Madison. In the next at bat, Ronning crushed another ball over the fence to make it 5-0 in favor of the Eagles.
The Vikings got a hit in the bottom of the seventh, but that was all they would get as Lexi Kopacek sat down the next two batters to claim the victory for the Eagles. Kopacek picked up her third-consecutive complete game win in shutout fashion. Ronning led the day going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Two of the Vikings' five hits came of the bat of Kinakin.
Bethany Lutheran finishes it season 27-12 after winning their first-ever regular season softball title. The Eagles improve to 27-15 overall and will learn their NCAA fate Monday during the NCAA Division III selection show at Noon on ncaa.com.
Playoff Schedule
Thursday, May 2 (Day One)
Game 1 – 10 a.m. – No. 4 Northwestern def. No. 5 Minnesota Morris, 5-1 |
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Game 2 – 12 p.m. – No. 3 St. Scholastica No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior, 11-0 (5 inn.) |
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Game 3 – 2 p.m. – No. 4 Northwestern def. No. 1 Bethany Lutheran, 7-4 (9 inn.) |
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Game 4 – 4 p.m. – No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior def. No. 5 Minnesota Morris, 9-3 |
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Friday, May 3 (Day Two)
Game 5 – 12 p.m. – No. 4 Northwestern def. No. 3 St. Scholastica, 3-1 |
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Game 6 – 2 p.m. – No. 1 Bethany Lutheran def. No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior, 5-0 |
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Game 7 – 4 p.m. – No. 1 Bethany Lutheran def. No. 3 St. Scholastica, 4-2 |
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Saturday, May 4 (Day Three)
Game 8 – 12 p.m. – No. 4 Northwestern def. No. 1 Bethany Lutheran, 5-0 |
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All tournament information including scores, recaps, team information and more can be found on the
UMAC Softball Tournament page. Keep up with all of the tournament action on
Twitter and
Instagram using
#UMACchamp.
2019 Tournament Page