KISSIMMEE, Fla. – In the final games at the Spring Games in Kissimmee, the Northland College Softball team fell in two close games, 2-4 to Hiram College and 8-6 to Alfred University in extra innings, Thursday afternoon.
 
In the first inning against the Terriers, both teams went three up three down with Miraya McFall picking up her first strikeout of the day. Ariana Wilson was the first baserunner of the game after drawing a walk was left on first. Hiram scored its first run in the second inning after a double, sac bunt, and then single.
 
The Terriers added two more runs in the third and scored their final run in the fourth innings.
 
Olivia Robotham broke up the HC no-hitter with a single to left field in the top of the sixth inning, but Northland finished the inning trailing by four.
 
In the seventh innings, the Jills loaded the bases with a single from Elizabeth Peters, Hailey Minnema getting hit by a pitch, and a single from Wilson, all before the first out.
 
 McFall had her first extra-base hit of the season to drive in two runs but the scoring stopped there. Hiram took the win 4-2.
 
After the two RBIs McFall now leads the team with four on the season. On the other side of the ball, she pitched her third complete game with five strikeouts, one walk and gave up three earned runs. Hope Sizemore earned the win by pitching six innings with three strikeouts and two earned runs given up.
 
The LumberJills trailed early against the Saxons, finding themselves down 5-0 by the end of the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Northland had its biggest inning of the season. After a walk from Minnema, Wilson singled to put runners on the corners. Lenisa Tomasisi drove in her first run of the season with a single to left field. Karee Lehner made it 3-5 after her first hit of the season. A pair of errors by the Saxon scored Alison Riddle and Lehner to tie the game at five.
 
In the following inning, Northland took the lead after another error. Alfred would tie the game up the following inning after an RBI double that would later force extra innings.
 
The Saxon would score two in the eighth to regain the lead. Northland was unable to tie the game in the eighth, falling 8-6.
 
The Jills recorded their second-most hits in a game this season with six. Wilson led the team with two singles. Northland got six free bases with Minnema and Murphy both drawing a pair of walks.
 
In the pitching circle, Wilson pitched a complete game with three strikeouts, no walks and gave up three earned runs. Megan Bennett pitched the final three innings for AU, striking out seven batters and not allowing an earned run to pick up the win.
 
Northland starts Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play on Mar. 22 when they travel to the University of Wisconsin-Superior for a three-game series.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.