END OF THE LINE: Norse Lose In Regional Finals
GLENDIVE, Montana---The first season in Bay College softball history came to a soggy end on Sunday as the women lost to five-time defending regional champion Dawson Community College, 15-3, in Glendive, Montana.
The loss in the NJCAA Region 13 Championship Game came on a day where the temperature was hovering around 40 days, with a soaking rain and even some snow was falling.
The day started well enough as the Norse got revenge against Dakota County Technical College for a loss to the Blue Knights in the opener of this tournament.
This time, the Norse went wild at the plate for a 26-7 victory in five innings. Bay College hit eight home runs in that game, with Maddy Griffin connecting for three home runs and six runs batted in.
Emily LaFave added a grand slam home run for the Norse, and other homers would fly off the bats of Emily Bruntjens, Eve LaFleche, Richelle Vandeville, and Olivia Capidolupo.
Rhiley Hubert threw the first three innings, and Lexi Winling pitched the final two in the victory.
That win put the Norse up against the Buccaneers on their home field, which was becoming muddier and muddier by the minute. A dropped fly ball in the bottom of the first inning ended up being costly as the next batter, Alison Elertson. Ripped a two-run base hit.
The Norse had an answer in the top of the second as Griffin hit her fourth home run of the afternoon, and Aubree Saunders followed with a solo shot of her own. The back-to-back dingers had the Norse baxk to within 3-2.
But the errors piled up on the Norse, and the slippery ball made it hard to handle behind the plate, as multiple wild pitches and passed balls moved Bucs baserunners along.
They scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 5-2 lead, then sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third, scoring ten times, and putting the game out of reach.
Reannon Justice had a three-run homer and Kylee Hergenrider added a solo homer against Hubert, who was lifted with one out in the third inning and replaced by Winling,
Of the 14 runs charged to Hubert, only one was earned, as the Norse made five errors.
Claire McInerney doubled in the seventh inning to bring home Vandeville, but the final score ended up 15-3.
Shelby Martin pitched all seven innings, throwing a four-hitter for Dawson, which improves to 41-3 on the season and will host the District Championship Series May 15-16 in Montana.
The Norse finish their first season of college softball with a 28-9 record.
