Softball strings together clutch wins

The Northwestern softball team went 4-2 this past week to push their overall record to 6-14. Strong individual performances carried the women.
The Lady Raiders swept College of Saint Mary in a non-conference doubleheader last Friday, 10-2 and 8-1.
With a 2-0 lead by the CSM Flames, NW responded with three runs  in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run home run by junior Shelby Johnson. The Raiders took charge with five more runs in the home-half of the third inning. Freshman Alex Price hit a three-run home run while junior Kami Kuhlmann and sophomore Heidi Esdohr hit RBI singles. In the fourth, NW added two insurance runs off Kuhlmann’s two-run home run. NW had a total of 12 hits: two by Kuhlmann, freshman Jordan Biehle and  sophomore Sadie Mennen.
In game two, freshman Keely Bracelin gave up just one run in the first inning and pitched a complete game two-hitter. Bracelin also walked three but struck out a career-high seven.
Offensively, NW scored three runs in the first inning, two in the fourth and sixth, and one in the fifth. Esdohr and Kuhlmann led with three hits each to add to the team’s total of 14 hits. Kuhlmann hit a solo shot to lead the fifth inning, adding her third home run of the season.
In Tuesday’s matchup versus Mount Marty, the Raiders were able to shut out the Lancers 2-0 in game two after dropping the first game 6-4. The three-run, seventh inning rally by Mount Marty was enough to give freshman Katie VandeVoort the loss despite only giving up three earned runs from the circle.
In the back end of the doubleheader, Bracelin pitched her first shutout and struck out five, while only giving up five hits. Offensively, the Raiders totaled nine hits and earned two runs off the Mount Marty pitcher. It was Johnson who provided the offense spark of the low-scoring contest by going 3-3 at the dish and drove in Kuhlmann before scoring the final run of the game herself on a solo home run.
NW split their Wednesday night games with Dakota Wesleyan. In the first game, Price went 1-1 and knocked in two runs. Johnson went 1-3 and put the other Raider run across the plate. VandeVoort started out in the circle for the Raiders, giving up four earned runs and eight hits while throwing four innings.  Sophomore Alex Brower relieved VandeVoort for the final three innings.
The second game was truly a pitcher’s duel, and the Raiders were the first and only to strike as they won 1-0. Bracelin picked up her second straight shutout despite giving up 10 hits. Great physical plays and smart infielding preserved the win for Bracelin, who is now 4-4 on the season. The offense of NW was limited as well, getting only five hits in the contest. Two by Kuhlmann and one each for senior Rachel Harris, Price and VandeVoort. The sole run of the game was scored on a double steal in the first inning of play when Harris was on third and Kuhlmann on first.
NW will head to Sioux City to play Morningside on Friday night.