Softball 3/19/02 -- Augsburg 5, Northwestern-Roseville 5 (8 inn.)

GAME BOXSCORE

PLYMOUTH, Minn. (3/19/02) -- Rachael Ekholm (Sr., Richfield, Minn.) struck out six batters in her pitching performance, then hit a two-run, ground-rule double in the seventh inning to plate the fourth and fifth runs for Augsburg College, as the Auggies scored a 5-5 tie with Northwestern College-Roseville in a nonconference softball game Wednesday afternoon at the Plymouth Dome. The game was called after eight innings because of time limits at the Plymouth Dome.

It was the first game of the season for Augsburg; Northwestern is now 2-0-1 on the year.

Ekholm, Augsburg's leading pitcher throughout her career, improved her career strikeout school record to 254.

After a scoreless first four innings, both teams scored single runs in the fifth, as Melissa Lee (So., Cannon Falls, Minn./Randolph HS) drove in Kristin Johnson (Fr., Minnetonka, Minn./Wayzata HS) on a single for the Auggies. In the bottom of the inning, Sarah Alberhasky broght in Bethany Isaacson on a single.

In the bottom of the sixth, Northwestern took a 4-1 lead, when Erica Dabelow doubled in a run and Erin Moline doubled in two runs.

But the Auggies took the lead back in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs to take a 5-4 advantage. Kristen Lideen (So., Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park HS) hit a single to drive in Christine Matthews (Fr., Robbinsdale, Minn./Cooper HS), Becky Ruckel (Fr., Andover, Minn./Anoka HS) doubled to drive in Trisha Pederson (Fr., Proctor, Minn.), and Ekholm hit a ground-rule double to plate both Ruckel and Lideen. The double was just shy of hitting the mark, according to the Plymouth Dome's ground rules, for a home run, said Augsburg coach Carol Enke.

Northwestern tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, when Erika Hudson doubled to drive in Leah LaPine with the game-tying run. Neither team scored in the eighth inning, and the game ended in a tie.

Northwestern's Alberhasky struck out 10 Auggies, while walking two and allowing nine hits. Ekholm had six strikeouts and one walk, allowing 14 hits.

Augsburg travels to Kissimmee, Fla., for 10 games in the Rebel Games from March 24-28. On Saturday (3/24), Augsburg faces Dubuque (Iowa) at 10:40 a.m. and Buena Vista (Iowa) at 2:20 p.m. Northwestern plays at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., on Saturday at 12 noon.