Northwestern scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to record a 4-3 come-from-behind, game-one win in a softball doubleheader against Dana played last night in Orange City, Iowa. The Red Raiders lost game two 6-4. Coach Kuhl's squad is now 4-18 in the GPAC, 8-30 overall with two games left to play.
With a 2-1 lead, Northwestern gave up a pair of unearned runs in the seventh to fall behind 3-2 heading into its final at-bat. Dana pitcher Brianne Nutty hit a two-run, two-out double in the rally but Lenae Kryszak was thrown out at home trying to score all the way from first to end the inning. Down one, Jessica Hooper began the bottom of the seventh with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Brittany Dicus. A sacrifice bunt by Hope Weiler followed by a walk to Ashley Evans put runners at first and second with one out. Rachel Harris then belted an RBI single, scoring Dicus and Heidi Esdohr followed with a walk to load the bases. Kami Kuhlmann then hit into a game-winning fielders choice, scoring pinch runner Stephanie Van Duyn.
Kuhlmann improved to 4-12 on the season with the complete-game win. She gave up eight hits and one earned run while striking out five. Northwestern totaled nine hits, led by Harris, Esdohr and Hooper with two hits each. Shelby Johnson added a run-scoring single in the first inning.
Northwestern grabbed a 4-2 lead after four innings but failed to hold off Dana in game two, losing 6-4. The Vikings scored three runs in the sixth inning and added an insurance run in the seventh to earn the win. Hooper (3-12) took the loss, giving up nine hits and four earned runs in 5.1 innings. Kuhlmann pitched the final 1.2 innings and gave up two hits and one earned run.
Offensively, NWC managed 10 hits, led by Harris and Esdohr once again with two hits each. Johnson and Glory Benson also added two hits each while Ashley Evans belted a 
solo home run, her second of the season.
Northwestern will host Concordia on Saturday in the final games of the season.
2010 Media Guide
