RIVER FOREST, Ill. - St. Norbert College opened the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference slate with a split with Concordia University Chicago, defeating the Cougars 3-1 in the opening game of the afternoon before falling 1-0 in extra innings in the second game in a doubleheader at CUC Softball Field.  

The Green Knights trailed 1-0 after the second inning, but took their first lead of the day in the third quarter thanks to two runs off three hits. With the bases loaded, Magdeline Hanmann hit an RBI single to bring home Zoe Zasada to tie the game at 1-1. St. Norbert then took the lead on the next at bat, with a single from Morgan Hansel scoring Ava Engwall.  

St. Norbert added one more run in the sixth, as pinch runner Aiva Champeau scored on a sacrifice fly from Adrianna Volz.  

Hansel recorded a multi-hit game for St. Norbert, going 2-for-2 with an RBI.  

Bailie Thielen (pictured) earned her first win of the season, pitching four innings and allowing only two hits and one run with one strikeout and four walks.  

The second game of the afternoon was a defensive battle, as neither team found a run in the first seven innings. The Green Knights got out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game with the bases loaded but still could not find an answer in the extra frame. 

The Cougars found the winning run in the bottom of the eighth, scoring on a sacrifice fly with runners on second and third.  

Addison Race recorded a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3. Amber Johanek took the loss, pitching 1/3 of an inning and allowing one run on no hits.  

St. Norbert will host its home opener against Wisconsin Lutheran College at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1 in a doubleheader at Miron Construction Field.