DE PERE - St. Norbert College had a good day at the plate en route to a doubleheader split with Marian University, winning the opener 8-5 before dropping the nightcap 9-4 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action at Miron Construction Field.
The Green Knights had 12 hits in the opener and 11 more in the nightcap but were held in check on the scoreboard in Game 2 after hitting into tough luck with three double plays.
St. Norbert got off to a good start in Game 1, scoring twice in the first inning on a two-run double by
Ava Engwall (pictured). The Green Knights added two more runs in the second inning on an RBI single by
Morgan Jarvi and a run-scoring groundout from
Grendel Sprong for a 4-0 lead. St. Norbert added a run in the third on a
Morgan Hansel run-scoring double to pull ahead 5-0. The Sabres got a run back in the fourth inning to make it 5-1 but the Green Knights benefitted from an RBI single from Engwall in the bottom half for a 6-1 lead.
Marian scored two runs in the fifth inning to make it 6-3 but the Green Knights answered with two runs in the sixth on an RBI grounder from Sprong and a run-scoring double from Engwall for an 8-3 lead. The insurance runs proved important as Marian had two runs in and the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh but the Green Knights closed out the win.
Engwall was 4-for-4 with two doubles and four runs batted in.
Elly Kirst was 3-for-3 with three runs scored.
Amber Johanek went 4 2/3 innings pitched and allowed one earned run to get the win, while Addison Mauer got the last three outs to record the save.
In Game 2, Marian scored three runs in the top of the first to jump ahead, but the Green Knights cut it to 3-1 when Kirst scored in the bottom of the inning on a passed ball. The Sabres would score once in the top of the second, but St. Norbert got to within 4-2 on an RBI double from Jarvi. The Green Knights had chances to get closer, but the second, third and fourth innings all ended in double plays.
Marian would break things open with a five-run sixth inning to lead 9-2. The Green Knights got two runs in the seventh inning on an RBI grounder from Sprong and a sacrifice fly from
Allison Ardito.
Jarvi was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and a run batted in. Kirst was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a double, while Engwall was 2-for-4 with a double.
Addison Maurer took the loss in five-plus innings of work.
