NIACC softball team gains pair of wins

By The Globe Gazette staff

AUSTIN, Minn. — NIACC brought out its offense Saturday as it earned a pair of victories over Century College and Southeastern. The Lady Trojans exploded for a 31-0 win in five innings over Century and rallied to walk off with a 7-6 win over Southeastern.

"It was great to see the kids having really good at-bats and seeing what it takes to make that happen," NIACC coach Christi Weiser said. "We were just getting production up and down the lineup."

NIACC pounded 17 hits in the opener, including a home run by Courtney Johannes and a grand slam by Shay Vesel, who finished the game 4 for 6 with seven RBIs and five runs. Morgan Thesing-Ritter added three hits and five RBIs, and Jenni King, Katie Chapman and Johannes drove in four runs apiece.

In Game 2, NIACC plated five runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a 1-run victory. Thesing-Ritter had three hits and Vesel added three RBIs.

"Everybody that had a chance to step up, did," Weiser said. "It's always fun early in the year to see them figure that out."

Anna Fossand earned the win in Game 1 with five strikeouts. None of the NIACC pitchers issued a single walk on the day.

NIACC 31, Century College 0 (5)

NIACC 5(22)0 22 – 31 17 1

Century 000 00 – 0 2 4

Anna Fossand (5K, 0BB) and Shay Vesel. HR – Courtney Johannes (N), Vesel. 3B – Morgan Thesing-Ritter (N), Katie Chapman (N). 2B – Payton Bamrick (N) 2, Vesel 3. Multiple hits – Thesing-Ritter 3, Bamrick 2, Vesel 4, Johannes 2, Chapman 2. Multiple RBIs – Thesing-Ritter 5, Bamrick 3, Vesel 7, Johannes 4, Shelby Low (N) 2, Chapman 4, Jenni King (N) 4.

NIACC 7, Southeastern 6

Southeastern 100 011 3 – 6 10 2

NIACC 101 000 5 – 7 15 1

Hannah Dove (0K, 0BB), Megan Wallace (7) (0K, 0BB) and Thesing-Ritter. W - Wallace. 2B – Vesel, Johannes, King. Multiple hits – Thesing-Ritter 3, Vesel 2, Brittany Florea (N) 2, King 2. Multiple RBIs – Vesel 3.