Baseball, softball drop playoff games

The spring seasons came to a close for both the softball and baseball teams as each team dropped their playoff games.
On Thursday night, the baseball team couldn’t repeat their magic from last year as they fell to Sioux Falls 5-2, and lost the elimination game to Mount Marty 13-8. The Raiders gave away runs in both games, with 11 of the 18 total runs scored against them being unearned.
The first game was a sloppy effort in the field as the Raiders committed four errors in the field. Junior Mike Zoellner picked up only his second loss of the entire season after he walked four batters. The Cougars took advantage of the unearned  baserunners. Zoellner went the distance on the mound but took the loss.
The elimination game against Mount Marty didn’t see a much better result. Starter sophomore Taylor Morris only lasted two-thirds of an inning and walked four batters. Of the seven runs that were scored against him, only one was earned.
Freshman Ryan Brasser also couldn’t buy an out as he gave up five runs in three innings of work. Four other pitchers came out of the bullpen to stop the bleeding.
The Raiders were practically handed baserunners, as they drew 13 walks in the game, but couldn’t find a way to drive enough of them in. Junior Steve Englund did well at the dish, going 2-3 and knocking in four RBI. Senior catcher Clint Gingerich drove in three runs in his final collegiate game.
The NW softball team couldn’t come up with the necessary victories and were bounced from the postseason Thursday night.
The first game saw NW fall to Concordia 7-1, and the elimination game saw Hastings make a late rally to win 8-4.
Stats were unavailable at the time of printing for the Concordia matchup.
In what turned out to be the final game of the season, freshman Keely Bracelin took the loss inside the circle after giving up 14 hits and eight runs in a full seven innings of work. The Raiders pounded out 10 hits, but couldn’t capitalize enough of them.
Freshman Alex Price went 2-3 to lead NW in the batter’s box and knocked in one run. Senior Rachel Harris went 1-4 in her final game.