On Tuesday, the Northwestern softball team traveled to Sioux Center to play in a doubleheader against Dordt. The Raiders swept the Defenders with an 8-1 win in the first game, and an 8-0 win in the second game.
Northwestern improved to 7-4 in GPAC play, 20-14 overall.
Senior Keely Bracelin picked up her seventh win in the first game and improved to 7-6 overall. She gave up only three hits and one earned run in the seven innings she was on the mound.
Bracelin also struck out seven batters and did not walk any Defenders.
At bat, the Raiders totaled 10 hits and were led by senior Alex Price, who had three hits to go with three RBIs. Junior Jillian Klenhesselink and sophomore Clare Ipema also had two hits, and senior Lindsey Remian added a three-run homer.
Senior Katie VandeVoort pitched in game two. She improved her record to 8-3. VandeVoort only allowed two hits in the five innings and did not give up a single earned run. She also had three strikeouts to go with zero walks.
The Raiders totaled six hits in the game and were lea at the plate by Price and senior Jordan Biehle, who each had two hits. Freshmen Morgan Means and Sophomore Laura Hurley each added one hit.
On Saturday, the Raiders went on the road to face Hastings in a doubleheader. NW split with Hastings with a 1-0 loss in the opener and a 3-0 win in the second game.
On a day in which scoring was scarce, the Raiders only had three hits in the first contest.
They were led by junior Kourtni Robinson who had two hits in the game. Ipema added the other hit.
Bracelin was on the mound in the first game and allowed four hits, all singles, to go with the lone run in the game. She did not allow a single walk and recorded one strikeout.
In the second contest, NW out hit Hastings 10-6 and was lead by the trio of Kleinhesselink, Ipema and Price who each had two hits. Hurley also added one hit to go with one run scored by junior Kara Nonnemacher
Vandevoort was inside the circle in the second game. She pitched her second shutout of the year. She allowed just six hits while striking out three and walking two.
NW next will travel to Fremont, Neb. today to play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.