NIACC softball team splits with Williston State

By The Globe Gazette staff

ROSEMOUNT, Minn. — The NIACC softball team split a doubleheader against Williston State College on Friday, dropping the opener 13-6 before bouncing back with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.

"The first game was brutally difficult with injuries and other adversity," NIACC coach Christi Weiser said. "We didn't deal with that very well but we came out the second game and I don't think I could be more proud as a coach. We just persevered and the players showed great leadership the second game."

NIACC (7-3) collected 13 hits in the opener and 11 in the nightcap and Weiser said she loves the approach her players are taking at the plate.

"I love the way the offense is producing," the coach said. "Up and down the lineup we're scary. We're attacking pitches and we're succeeding because we have quality at-bats."

Kendall Cornick and Katie LaBuda had three hits apiece, LaBuda added two RBIs, Allison Scott had two hits and two RBIs, Sara Steinman had two hits and Brittany Florea had a 2-run double in the opener for the Lady Trojans.

In the second game, Becca Huberty had three hits and knocked in three runs while Cornick added a pair of hits.

"I thought Becca and Sara really stepped up for us," Weiser said. "Sara was 2 for 3 the first game and Becca was 3 for 3 with three RBIs in clutch moments in the second game."

Weiser was also impressed with Steinman in the circle as the sophomore from Algona earned the save in relief of Lexy Pederson, who struck out seven, in the nightcap.

"Lexy pitched well and Sara Steinman was lights out," Weiser said. "In her last five or six innings Sara's allowed two hits with nine strikeouts."

WILLISTON STATE 13, NIACC 6

NIACC 210 030 0 – 6 13 3

Williston State 218 002 x – 13 15 0

Katie LaBuda (0K, 1BB), Becca Huberty (4) (1K, 1BB) and Brittany Florea. Raynaud (6K, 4BB), Erickson (6) (0K, 1BB) and Schulz. W – Raynaud. L – LaBuda (2-2). 2B – LaBuda (3), Tricia Notermann (N) (5), Florea (N) (3), Erickson 2, McGonial (WS), Solario (WS), Atlee (WS), Schulz. Multiple hits – Kendall Cornick (N) 3, LaBuda 3, Allison Scott (N) 2, Sara Steinman (N) 2, McGonial 3, Schulz, Solario 2, Atlee 2, Escobar-Mancuso (WS) 2, Erickson 2. Multiple RBIs – LaBuda 2, Scott 2, Florea 2, Schulz 4, Erickson 2.

NIACC 5, WILLISTON STATE 3

Williston State 000 120 0 – 3 10 1

NIACC 021 200 x – 5 11 0

Raynaud (3K, 1BB), Erickson (3) (1K, 0BB), Raynaud (5) and Schulz. Lexy Pederson (7K, 4BB), Steinman (5) (5K, 0BB) and Elise Powers. W – Pederson (1-0). L – Raynaud. SV – Steinman (1). 2B – Raynaud. Multiple hits – Solario 3, Schulz 2, Huberty 3, Cornick 2, Multiple RBIs – Huberty 3.