New Ulm, MN - MLC softball picked up its first win of the season today at home in their doubleheader versus North Central. The Knights did it in game one on the day in comeback fashion, beating the Rams 6-4, while North Central edged out MLC 4-3 in the second contest.

MLC 6, NCU 4

Jess Horn pitched had one of her better starts of the season, fanning six batters and allowing just four runs (2 earned) in a complete game performance. Horn got out of some jams during the game and limited the Rams throughout. MLC got their first run off of an RBI single from Anna Busch to make it 2-1, and then Chloe Berg evened it up 2-2 with another RBI single to center field.

The Rams retook the lead in the top of the fifth after having a lead-off triple and then a double to make it 4-2. However, MLC had some more left in them and put together a four-run inning that got started with a lead-off double from Kierah Schultz. Fellow freshman Chloe Koschnitzke drove in Schultz and Horn to tie things up when the catcher hit an RBI triple ot right field. Koschnitzke ended up scoring on the hit as well after a fielding error from the Rams' defense and made it 5-4. 

Following that sequence, the Knights added an insurance run and went up 6-4 with a chance to close it out in the top of the seventh. Horn and the Knights did just that and got the final three outs, even with North Central getting on base with a two-out double.

In addition to her complete game, Horn also went 4-for-4 at the plate and led MLC with two runs scored, along with Koschnitzke. Berg, Busch, and Schultz each finished with two hits.

NCU 4, MLC 3

Game two featured another evenly split game between the two schools, with each team going out in front during the seven innings on the diamond. MLC went up first, taking a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the second. The Knights held for a few innings with NCU cutting it to 2-1 in the top of the fourth. 

MLC had looked as if they were going to grab another victory, but the Rams were the team to come back in this one as they took the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth. NCU then made it 4-2 at the top of the seventh. 

MLC scored in the bottom half of the seventh when Katie Rassat hit an RBI single to left field, but the Rams closed out the game with the final out in right field on a nice play from the outfielder.

Berg led the team with a 4-for-4 game at the plate, while Rassat recorded two hits.

With the split, MLC and NCU will play the third game of the series next Wednesday, following Easter Break. That game will be played at 4 p.m. to determine the winner of the series.