NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College softball team closed the conference portion of its schedule with a pair of losses to Northwestern on Friday by the scores of 3-2 and 9-3.

GAME 1

The Knights rallied late, but came up short in a 3-2 game one loss to the Eagles.

UNW scored once in the first inning, and twice more in the third to take a 3-0 lead off MLC starting pitcher Kathryn Marquardt. 

The Knights hung tough the rest of the way, and got on the scoreboard thanks to a Megan Lemke RBI single in the sixth inning.

In the seventh, MLC was able to put the winning run on base, but was only able to score one run.

Marquardt took the loss, falling to 4-9 on the season after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out three. 

GAME 2

UNW pulled away late in game two to secure the sweep with a 9-3 win over MLC.

The Eagles led 2-0 after five innings, but began to pull away late thanks to a five-run sixth inning. 

The Knights scored all three runs in the seventh inning, as Audrey Timm hit a two-run double, and Kelli Doell added an RBI groundout.

Amanda Schoch took the loss for MLC after allowing all nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits in seven innings. She fell to 3-6 on the season with the loss.

MLC dropped to 8-19 overall, and 5-11 in UMAC play, following the two defeats. UNW improved its record to 19-19 on the season and 13-3 in conference play with the sweep.

With the game one loss, MLC was also eliminated from making the UMAC Postseason Tournament next week. 

The Knights will close the season with a doubleheader against St. Olaf on Monday, May 2, at 4 p.m.