Northwest University women’s softball team opened their 2015 season splitting a doubleheader with Lewis & Clark College on Sunday in non-league play. L&C opened with a 6-4 win in the first game and Northwest U came back for a 5-2 win in the second game.
Game 1 – Lewis & Clark jumped out early, 2-0, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning when Hannah Dal Pra hit a home run down the left field line. The game remained scoreless until the Pioneers scored again in the third inning when Tiana Rosario opened the inning with a double and scored later on a single by Jenai Rojo to right center.
Northwest erupted for four runs in the top of the fourth inning as Ricki Tacdol hit her first home run of the season to left center. The Eagles scored another when Katelin Lewis scored on a bases loaded walk. Another run scored when Katelyn Riedinger singled and Cara Cristion scored on a Alyssa Gonzalez single up the middle giving NU a 4-3 lead.
L&C picked up a run during the sixth inning to tie the score and then won the game in the bottom of the seventh when Hannah Dal Pra hit her second round tripper of the game with a runner on base to give the Pioneers the dramatic win.
Kelli Peckham took the loss for Northwest U (0-1) while Madison Hollenbeck got the win for L&C (1-0).
Alyssa Gonzalez (Kennewick, Wash.) went 2-for-3 for Northwest U and designated hitter Savannah Rush (Fresno, Calif.) went 1-for-2. Katelin Lewis was 1 -for-3 with one RBI.
Hannah Dal Pra led the way for Lewis & Clark going 2-for-4 with four RBI’s on the day including the two home runs. Jenai Rojo was 2-for-3 with two RBI’s.
Game 2 – Kierston Perry threw a two hitter in the second game as Northwest U earned their first win of the 2015 season with a 5-2 victory over the Pioneers.
The Eagles’ bats came alive early in the first inning as they would take a 2-0 lead off a two run double by Savannah Rush scoring Darian Godfrey and Ricki Tacdol. Godfrey had doubled to center and Tacdol hit a single to right. Lewis & Clark came back with one run in the bottom of the first when Hannah Dal Pra singled in Tiana Rosario who had doubled.
The Eagles came up with three runs in the third inning when Kierston Perry hit a two run single up the up the middle scoring Savannah Rush and Darian Godfrey. Perry later scored on a Pioneer error giving NU a 5-1 lead.
The Pioneers managed a run in the bottom of the fifth when Haley Robinson scored on a sacrifice fly by Jenai Rojo.
The game was called following the 5th inning due to wet playing conditions giving NU their first win of the season. Kiertson Perry picked up the win for the Eagles (1-1) while Kalin Rooney took the loss for Lewis & Clark (1-1). Catcher Savannah Rush went 3-for-3 with two RBI’s for Northwest U and pitcher Kierston Perry (Kaupo, Hawaii) helped her own cause with a 1-for-2 day and two RBI’s. NU played error-free for the five innings.
“We came out ready to play today,” said NU head coach, Mallory Tacdol. “We had a great defense behind our pitchers and provided run support for them. It’s a great start to the season.”
