ROSEMOUNT, MN – The Norse Softball Team (3-15) ended up with a split on the first day of their trip to the Irish Dome in Minnesota. A big seventh inning broke the game open in favor of the Norse in game one, as they took down the Central Lakes College Raiders (2-2) by a final of 7-1. The Dakota County Blue Knights (7-0) wound winning game two by a final of 7-6 in a back-and-forth affair.
Both teams struggled to score early in the opener. The Raiders finally scratched across a run in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a Norse error.
Bay wasted no time answering as with one out Kaitlyn Hardwick (SO, Gladstone, MI) tripled on a ball to right, and with two outs Lexi Challier (SO, Escanaba, MI) blasted a homerun to give the Norse the lead.
Challier helped extend the lead in the seventh with an RBI double. Control issues broke the game open as the Norse drew three bases loaded walks in the inning. Hardwick added another run with a two-out single.
The Raiders weren't able to mount a comeback in the bottom half, stranding a runner on.
Karlie Patron (FR, Ishpeming, MI) was brilliant for the Norse, giving up just three hits, one unearned run and two walks while striking out ten for the win.
Jenna Grantz (FR, Oregon, WI) took the loss for the Raiders, pitching six innings and giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks. She struck out seven.
Hardwick ended up going four for five in the game with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI. Challier was two for four with three RBI, two runs scored, a double and that homerun. Kristin Goodacre (FR, Rapid River, MI) also had two hits in four at bats with a double and a run scored.
The Norse loaded the bases with the first three hitters in the top of the first. Bay only got one run however, as the Raiders induced a pair of groundballs and struck out the last batter of the inning to escape the jam with minimal damage.
The Blue Knights answered back in the bottom half. After a lead off single, two Norse errors tied the game up. A one-out sacrifice bunt ended up giving Dakota County a 2-1 lead before Bay could get out of the inning.
Bay kept the offense rolling in the second. Hardwick scored runners from first and second with a line drive double to left. With two outs Challer traded places, doubling to center. Korey Kaukola (SO, Campion, MI) got in the act with a line drive to center that plated Challier. Kaukola was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but the damage had been done, and the Norse held a 5-2 lead.
Dakota County's big inning came in the third. After a walk and a double, they cut the lead down on a Norse error. Katie Meszoros (FR, Saint Paul Park, MN) singled to tie the game, and Spenser Mohr (FR, Fargo, ND) gave the Blue Knights the lead with a double. Bella Ciccarelli (FR, Inner Grove Heights, MN) singled to left to make the score 7-5. The Norse would finally get out of the inning, stranding runners on first and third, but not before they gave up five in the inning.
The Norse cut the lead in half in the fourth as Challier doubled home Hardwick, but the Bay left the runner in scoring position and the score stood at 7-6.
Bay got out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the fourth. After Patron struck out a hitter for the first out, a line drive right at Riley Arndt (FR, Bark River, MI) resulted in a double play when the Norse caught a runner straying too far off the bag.
The Norse left a runner on in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one more in the seventh as they fell by a run.
Amber Roby (FR, Apple Valley, MN) tallied the win for the Blue Knights going six innings and striking out six, while giving up six runs, five earned, ten hits, and two walks.
Patron went the distance for the Norse and took the loss, despite giving up just four earned runs. She struck out three and gave up nine hits and two walks.
Ciccarelli and Maszaros each collected a pair of hits for Dakota County.
Challier, Hardwick, and Goodacre continued to stay hot at the plate. Challier was three for three with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBI, and a walk. Hardwick was two for four with a double , two runs scored and two RBI, while Goodacre was also two for four with an RBI.
The Norse continue with the Region 13 crossover style event tomorrow as they will take on Northland Community and Technical College at 2:15 and Rainy River Community College at 4 pm.