Wildcats Score 13 Straight Runs for Win

The NDSCS Wildcats Softball team took on Hudson Valley this morning for a spot in the NJCAA D3 World Series Semi-Final game.  Hudson Valley got off to a very quick start by putting up five runs in the first inning before holding the Wildcats to only one hit in the first to go up 0-5 after one.

Ella Stewart took over pitching duties and steadied the Wildcats in the second inning getting three straight batters in a row, including two strikeouts, after an error and a walk to start the inning.  The Wildcats got two runs in the bottom of the second inning to bring the score to 2-5.

Stewart had a 1-2-3 third inning setting up the Wildcats batters.  With the game still 2-5 Hudson Valley, Ava Howard came up to the plate with two runners on where she blasted a home run to tie the game up at 5 a piece.  

Howard started off the fourth inning with a spectacular catch out in left field and Stewart was able to strike out two more batters leaving the game tied going into the bottom of the fourth.  The Wildcats only managed one walk in the fourth keeping the score tied going into the fifth.

The fifth inning proved to be huge for the Wildcats as Stewart had another 1-2-3 inning putting the 'Cats in control.  Katie Edmonds got on base with a bunt and Meridith Frey hit a double to set runners up on second and third for Rayelle Cooley.  Cooley hit a shot up the middle that was mishandled by the HVCC defender scoring both runs putting NDSCS up 7-5.  Caitlyn Dannenfelzer next smashed a stand up triple to score another run to continue to build the lead.  Emma Johnson would then single to score Kendyl Moss after she was hit by a pitch in the prior at bat.  Blythe Proulx drew a walk and Ava Howard came up to bat again where she hit an RBI double.  Katie Edmonds came up with runners on second and third and an 11-5 lead where she hit a ball into center scoring the game winning runs to put the game away at 13-5 for an NDSCS win and a berth in the semi-finals later today for the 'Cats.

The Wildcats will play later today at 3:30PM (central time) where they will take on the winner of RCSJ - Gloucester and Patrick & Henry.