GALESBURG, IL – The Norse Softball Team (1-1) opened their season on the road and split a doubleheader with the Carl Sandburg College Chargers (1-9) in two high scoring affairs. The Chargers took the first game 10-8 before the Norse took the second by a final score of 14-13.

Carl Sandburg took advantage of an error and a pair of walks in the first inning.  The highlight of the inning was Alexia Hunter (SO, Abingdon, IL) driving a triple to right to drive in two.

The Norse got a run back in the second from a fielder's choice.  The third inning started off with a quick two outs but Bay mounted a rally.  Aliana Martinez (FR, Gladstone, MI) capped a string of three-consecutive hits with a two-RBI single to right-center.  A pair of errors plated one more making the score 5-4 in favor of the home team. 

The Chargers got an RBI double from Alexis Brammeier (SO, Minier, IL) in the third and two-RBI double from Hannah Pyle (Fr, Economy, IN), who scored later in the fourth to get build a cushion. 

Bay showed resiliency.  After a pair singles in the fifth, a two-out error extended the inning.  That allowed Kennedy Sproule (FR, Niverville, MB) a chance to drive a single to right, driving in two.  A two-out rally in the sixth sent two more runs to the plate as Anna Boutilier (FR, Escanaba, MI) singled to center.  Once again the Norse were within one run.

Unfortunately Bay left two on in the sixth and Hunter belted an inside-the-park homerun with one out in the bottom of the sixth.  The Norse went down in order in the seventh, and dropped the first game by a score of 10-8.

Boutilier was three for four with two runs scored and two RBI.  McKayla Mott (FR, Escanaba, MI) was three for four with three runs scored from the leadoff spot.

Rylee Gerow (FR, Gladstone, MI) took the loss for the Norse.

Hunter was three for four with three runs scored, three RBI, and a triple and a homerun.  Brammeier also had three hits in four at bats, driving in three.

Mary Hellige (SO, Fort Madison, IA) picked up the win in a complete game effort.  She struck out six and gave up five earned runs.

Runs were not hard to find in game two as the Norse picked up a couple in the top of the first, only to have the Chargers snatch the lead back in the bottom half with four of their own.  Bay tied it with back-to-back homeruns from Mott and Boutilier in the third, but Carl Sandburg answered right back with two more in their portion of the frame. 

The Norse went on to a big four-run fourth.  Krista Carello (FR, Negaunee, MI) picked up an RBI and Mott belted her second homerun of the game.  A two-out error brought two more runs to the plate, putting Bay up 8-6.

An error started off the bottom of the fourth on the wrong foot for Bay.  The Chargers quickly loaded the bases and got a single from Jaycee Craig (SO, Laura, IL) that brought two runs to the plate.  A bases loaded walk put Carl Sandburg ahead once again. 

Bay threatened again in the fifth, as the Chargers returned the favor with an error to start the inning.  A sacrifice bunt by Sam Soper (FR, Cornell, MI) plated a run and Boutilier drove in another with a hard single.  Bay added a run in the sixth to go up by two. 

After a Charger sacrifice fly in the sixth, the Norse needed some breathing room and got just enough.  Mott lined a triple to left scoring two runs and she scored on a defensive miscue on the next play.  Bay held a 14-10 lead going into the bottom of the last inning. 

The Chargers were not done yet.  Hunter doubled in a run, and a wild pitch scored her.  Craig hit a solo shot to center that cleared the fence with two outs, pulling the home team to within a run.  The Norse got the final out of the game on a line drive, ending the game with the Norse ahead 14-13.

Carello was the winning pitcher for the Norse.  She struck out six in four innings of work, walked three and gave up seven earned runs.

Boutilier was the leading hitter, going four for five with a double, three runs scored, and four RBI.  Mott had those two homeruns and a triple in four at bats.  She scored four times and drove in four. 

Craig was three for three with three RBI for the Chargers. 

The Norse are scheduled to begin conference play on Friday as they will travel to Mount Pleasant, MI to take on the Mid Michigan Lakers.  Friday's doubleheader will start at 2 pm while Saturday's first pitch will be at 1 pm.