The annual Dordt vs. Northwestern softball showdown took place on Wednesday, April 8, at the Orange City Softball Complex, and the Red Raiders emerged as the clear winners.
Despite the clouds and the fog, NW handled the Defenders with ease. There was a doubleheader scheduled between the two teams, but due to the weather, only the first leg was able to be completed.
The first game was a six-inning, 8-0 win over Dordt, and the second match was ended prematurely in the top of the fourth. NW possessed a 9-2 lead when the game was suspended, and it will be finished at a later date.
Freshman Kayla Tindall pitched a shutout, which was her third of the season. Tindall walked two hitters and struck out five, only giving up two hits during the game.
The game remained a scoreless tie until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Raiders opened up scoring with runs from Kara Nonnemacher, Jillian Kleinhessilink and Kensy Vande Hoef.
The Red Raiders continued their scoring streak with three more runs in the fifth inning, and finished the Defenders off with two more runs in the sixth inning.
Laura Hurley led the team with three RBI’s on the day, and Kleinhessilink recorded a team high three runs scored.
Sophomore Monse Figueroa enjoyed the team’s performance.
“It was awesome seeing how well we have been connecting as a team,” Figueroa said. “In the third inning of our second game our whole line up fed off of each other. We had back to back to back hits and went through our whole batting line up.”
The date of the rescheduled ending to the second game has yet to be determined, but the Raiders will be hosting Midland on Friday, April 10.
