Wildcats Win Opening Round

The NDSCS Wildcats Softball team kicked off the NJCAA DIII World Series as the #1 seed as they took on the #8 seed Surry.  

The Wildcats' Grace Folkema got the start and set the tone early.  Folkema had a 1-2-3 inning in the first including one strikeout.  Caitlyn Dannenfelzer got the bats going in the bottom of the first when she hit one out to left for a single that ended up getting her to third base on an error in the outfield.  Emma Johnson would come up and hit a sacrifice fly to score Dannenfelzer for the first run of the game.  The Wildcats would get another hit from Blythe Proulx before the inning ended with the 'Cats up 1-0.

The second inning saw a highlight play made by Jessi Mathews who sprinted in on a pop up making a diving catch to start the inning.  Mathews made multiple great plays in the outfield for the 'Cats defense.  Folkema would go 1-2-3 in the second inning to keep Surry at bay.  Katie Edmonds reached on an error in the second inning where she also was able to steal a base.  Rayelle Cooley and Dannenfelzer both reached on walks as well leading to Kendyl Moss hitting a two RBI single to get the lead to 3-0 NDSCS.  The next batter was Johnson who also hit a two RBI single to build the lead up to 5-0 before the inning ended.

Surry was able to get a few runners on the bases due to walks, but weren't able to get any hits or runs in the top of the third.  The third inning was highlighted by Dannenfelzer hitting a bases clearing three RBI double with two outs to put the 'Cats up 8-0.  Moss next got hit by a pitch (second on the game) before Emma Johnson came up to the plate and blasted a three run home run to put the Wildcats up 11-0 in the bottom of the third.  

The fourth inning saw Surry get two hits to break up Folkema's no hitter, but once again they were unable to score any runs to come within reach.  Proulx made a great throw from right field on Surry's second single of the inning throwing out the base runner at second.  Mathews hit a double and Meridith Frey got on base with a single, but the Wildcats were unable to score any runs in the fourth.

The top of the fifth saw Heeley Taylor take the mound where she was gave up only a single to one of the four batters she faced concluding the game with the Wildcats winning 11-0.

The Wildcats will now play this evening at 6 PM (eastern time), 5 PM (central time) against the winner of CC of Rhode Island and Hudson Valley.  All games can be watched on the NJCAA Network.