Eagles End Tucson Play with Two Losses
TUCSON, Ariz. – The NU Eagles wrapped up play in the Tucson Invitational Tuesday night with two losses against Ashford University and Cardinal Stritch. Ashford edged the Eagles in the first game 6-4 and Cardinal Stritch pitcher, Tori Burke threw a no-hitter for a 5-0 shutout victory.
Game 1 – Ashford 6, Northwest U 4
Ashford University came up with 3 runs in the 6th inning to break a 4-4 tie and came away with a 6-4 victory at Lincoln Park.
The Saints took an early 2-0 lead coming up with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and scoring another run in the 2nd inning to lead 3-0. Northwest U would then come back with 2 runs in the 3rd inning when Alyssa Gonzalez and Allie Anderegg would lead off with back-to-back singles. A passed ball would move Gonzalez to third and Anderegg to second. Savannah Rush would then hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Gonzalez. Danielle Bonsky would then single to right driving in Anderegg.
The Eagles would tie the game up in the top of the 5th inning. Savannah Rush would hit a two out single to center field and Courtney Cox would follow with a single to center. Danielle Bonsky would then come through with a double to left center bringing Rush across home plate to make it a 3-3 game.
Ashford would then get their first victory of the tournament in the bottom of the 6th inning scoring 3 runs on 5 hits including three doubles for the 6-4 lead as they would hold NU scoreless in the 7th inning.
Danielle Bonksy led Northwest U (3-6) with a 2 for 4 game and 2 RBIs. Courtney Cox also went 2 for 4. Savannah Rush and Ricki Tacdol both went 1 for 3 from the plate scoring a run and each with a RBI. Kelli Peckham took the loss for the Eagles in the circle.
Ashford (9-10) was led by Marissa Thornburg’s 2 for 3 day as she batted in two runs and score two for the Saints. Siera Spahiu was 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs and Allie Klasen went 2 for 3. Jordan Kasbohm earned the win for AU going 7 innings and giving up 9 hits while striking out 7 Eagles and walking only one.
Game 2 – Cardinal Stritch (RV) 5, Northwest U 0
Tori Burke held the Eagles hitless for seven innings for the no-hitter as the Wolves defeated NU, 5-0, last night in the final night of play for the Eagles. Burke faced only 26 NU batters, striking out 6 and walking 4 while Stritch put together 12 hits for their 5 runs.
CSU strung together two singles and a double in the 2nd inning as they would take a 1-0 lead. The Wolves got two more runs in the 3rd inning when Erica Kramer doubled to left field driving in a run and Stritch scored another on a sacrifice fly to center field giving CSU a 3-0 lead.
The Wolves increased their lead in the 5th inning as Kramer brought in a run with a base clearing triple and Kramer then scored on a single by teammate Jill Andreoni giving them a 5-0 lead.
Burke would hold the Eagles scoreless and without a hit the remainder of the way for her no-hitter, leaving three NU runners on base.
Erica Kramer led Cardinal Stritch (6-3) with two RBIs, scoring a run and going 3 for 4 from the plate. Jill Andreoni was 2 for 3 with a RBI.
Northwest U returns home to Kirkland and will be on the road this Friday to open conference play at Walla Walla in College Place, Wash., with a doubleheader.