By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
May 5–Virginia, Minn. -
Third place in the MCAC North was on the line when the Northland Pioneers and Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range Norse met for a doubleheader Sunday. The Pioneers were coming off a doubleheader sweep of the Norse one day prior. The results of Saturday's sweep, by scores of 10-2 and 10-8, put the Pioneers in sole possession of third place in the MCAC North with a 10-8 record that included two wins by forfeit over Minnesota North College - Hibbing.
On Sunday, the Norse regained a share of third place with a pair of wins on their home field, defeating the Pioneers 13-5 and 9-1. A coin toss would have been used to determine who finished third. However, the Pioneers are forfeiting their playoff spot before the coin toss due to a scheduling conflict with graduation ceremonies on both Northland campuses Thursday evening and Friday afternoon. Coaches from multiple MCAC schools have urged the conference to change the playoff schedule for several years, but it continues to conflict with graduation at most MCAC schools.
Sunday's opening game was back and forth early. The Pioneers scored a pair of runs in the top of the first. The Norse took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. The Pioneers regained the lead with two runs in the top of the third. The Norse responded with two more in the bottom of the third to go in front 5-4 and the Pioneers tied the game with a run in the top of the fourth. The game was still tied going into the bottom of the fifth when the Norse scored eight runs to end the game early, with a 13-5 win in five innings.
The Norse kept the momentum going early in game two, with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the fourth, but the Norse answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, three in the fifth and a run in the sixth to once again end the game early via the eight-run rule.
May 5, 2024
Northland at Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range
Game 1
(0-0)
5
(0-0)
13
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
R |
H |
E |
| Northland |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
9 |
4 |
| Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
13 |
16 |
3 |
Box Score
BATTING
2B: Shavonda Bender (2)
RBI: Shavonda Bender , Reese Rustad , Mariah Graves , Anneke Lacina
BASERUNNING
SB: Shavonda Bender
FIELDING
E: Reese Rustad , Mariah Graves (3)
BATTING
2B: Katie Peck (2) , Claire Cushman
RBI: Johanna Westby (3) , Katie Peck (3) , Claire Cushman (2) , Madeline Kallberg , Destry Whitbeck
Sac Fly: Johanna Westby
FIELDING
E: Katie Peck , Claire Cushman (2)
PITCHING
Batters faced: Kennedy Wallace (31)
WP: Kennedy Wallace (3)
| PITCHERS |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
| Hailey Greenly (W, 9-8) |
5.0 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
| Totals |
5.0 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
PITCHING
Batters faced: Hailey Greenly (28)
WP: Hailey Greenly (2)
HBP: Hailey Greenly
Other Information
| Location: |
Seppi Field |
| Attendance: |
0 |
May 5, 2024
Northland at Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range
Game 2
(0-0)
1
(0-0)
9
Line Score
| Final |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
R |
H |
E |
| Northland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
| Minnesota North College - Mesabi Range |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
13 |
2 |
Box Score
BATTING
3B: Mariah Graves
RBI: Lynelle Charnoski
BASERUNNING
SB: Jada Kosmatka
CS: Jada Kosmatka
FIELDING
E: Reese Rustad (2) , Emilee Tate
BATTING
2B: Hailey Greenly (2) , Katie Peck
3B: Katie Peck
RBI: Johanna Westby (3) , Hailey Greenly , Elizabeth Hey , Katie Peck (2) , Janie Potts
FIELDING
E: Elizabeth Hey , Destry Whitbeck
DP: Janie Potts , Madeline Kallberg
PITCHING
Batters faced: Mariah Graves (37)
WP: Mariah Graves (3)
HBP: Mariah Graves
| PITCHERS |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
HR |
| Hailey Greenly (W, 10-8) |
6.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| Totals |
6.0 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
PITCHING
Batters faced: Hailey Greenly (24)
Other Information
| Location: |
Seppi Field |
| Attendance: |
0 |
