New Ulm, MN - The MLC softball team dropped both games of its Saturday doubleheader to Northland. Game one saw the Knights lose 13-4, while the second game ended in a 7-5 loss. In between the doubleheader, MLC softball had parents' day and senior night announcements. Lisa Hoffer and Lexi Fischer were the two MLC seniors honored.

Northland 13, MLC 4

Both teams battled the cold outside as it was in the mid-30s around first pitch. Despite the harsh conditions, the Lumberjills went right to work at the plate, posting five runs through the first two innings. Northland went on to add another two runs in the top of the third.

Meanwhile, MLC was unable to answer back with runs of their own and were held scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when they put together four runs on the scoreboard. Fischer got things on senior night with a RBI double to center field. Hannah Ott followed the scoring play up with a two-run single of her own.

Through four innings the game was within reach for the Knights, only down 7-4, but Northland decided to end an rally attempt from MLC by scoring 3 runs each in the fifth and sixth inning to win 13-4.

Jordyn Heckendorf, Jess Horn, and Hannah Ott each produced with 2 hits, while Hoffer led the Knights with 3 base hits.


Northland 7, MLC 2

The Lumberjills once again scored five runs in the first two innings, hitting the ball all over the diamond. MLC would find their rhythm a little sooner in this game, with a run scored in the second and third inning. Both teams would go through a scoreless fourth inning, but the Knights and Lumberjills would fight back to score two runs in the fifth inning.

The Knights had an opportunity to climb back into the game when they had the winning run at the plate, but Horn would ground out to short stop, ending the game 7-5.

MLC actually outhit Northland 14-12 in hits for the game, but the story of the game was the 12 baserunners left stranded, as the Knights failed to convert on the scoring chances.

Horn would go down with the loss, tossing a complete game, while giving up 7 runs. The sophomore threw a total of 12 innings on the day and gave a strong effort for a shorthanded MLC pitching rotation.

Fischer had another impressive performance at the plate, going 4-4 with four runs scored. Heckendorf had 3 runs batted in and made some key defensive plays out in centerfield.

MLC (5-19, 2-10) will look to get back on the winning side travel to Minnesota Morris for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 25.