By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
May 1–Thief River Falls, Minn. -
Northland Community & Technical College swept Minnesota North College - Vermilion in an MCAC Northern Division softball double header Wednesday afternoon at Franklin Middle School in Thief River Falls.
Wedensday's games were played off campus after heavy rains on Tuesday left Northland's field and the adjacent Multi-Event Center field unplayable.
Game one was a back-and-forth contest that sawsaw both teams score a pair of runs in the first inning. The Pioneers led 4-3 after two innings and 6-3 after three innings. The Ironhawks took a 7-6 lead in the top of the fourth. The Pioneers led 14-7 after five innings and held on for the 14-9 win.
"Game one was an exciting back and forth softball game," said Northland Head Coach Cassie Berg. "Vermilion was hitting great with four home runs and just a bunch of hard hits that really could have set us back mentally. I was so happy with the way the girls had each other's backs on defense."
There were several turning points in game one, but the final turn came on a three-run home run by
Shavonda Bender that gave the Pioneers a 9-7 lead. "Von's home run was definitely a highlight of that game," Berg said. "That has been a long time coming and I'm so happy she hit that."
Game two started out as a pitcher's duel, with Northland game two starter
Mariah Graves emerging with a five-inning shutout. Graves kept the bases empty for the most part, but she also managed to navigate her way out of a bases loaded situation with no outs in the top of the fourth.
"Mariah's shutout was so fun. She was able to stay focused with runners on base to get us out of the innings. I'm so proud of her for pushing through."
The Pioneers answered with eight runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning, before securing the 8-0 win with a one-two-three top of the fifth.
"We must have said something a little different in the huddle before that inning to get us going," Berg said. "I think the girls were just able to get up there and have some fun. It only takes one good hit to start a rally, and boy did they start one at a good time."
Six games remaining
The Pioneers, who improved to 6-6 in the MCAC North and 6-13 overall on Wednesday, had six games remaining as of presstime Thursday. The Thursday afternoon double header against second place MNC-Rainy River Voyageurs (10-4, 11-13) was rescheduled for Friday, May 3 due to rain Thursday. The Pioneers are also scheduled to host third place MNC-Mesabi Range (8-4, 8-4) for a double header Saturday, with games at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., before wrapping up the season at MNC-Mesabi Range on Sunday with games at noon and 2.
May 1, 2024
Minnesota North College - Vermilion at Northland
Game 1
9
14
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College - Vermilion |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
| Northland |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
X |
14 |
13 |
1 |
May 1, 2024
Minnesota North College - Vermilion at Northland
Game 2
0
8
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
R |
H |
E |
| Minnesota North College - Vermilion |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Northland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
X |
8 |
10 |
2 |
