April 24, 2008

Lexy Determan broke the school record for strikeouts in a single season and the Northwestern College softball team swept a key GPAC doubleheader from Briar Cliff, 5-0 and 1-0. With the wins, the Red Raiders, who have won six straight games, improve to 22-14 overall, 12-6 and in third place in the GPAC with six games left in the regular season. Briar Cliff falls to 17-18 overall, 13-8 in the league.

Determan (15-7) earned the win in game one as the freshman allowed just one hit, a fifth-inning single to Kashe Manley. She walked two and struck out six, which tied the single season strikeout mark of 187 set in 2007 by Megan McHugh. The Red Raiders registered seven hits, led by sophomore Sara Curry who went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Northwestern opened the scoring in the second inning on a two-out, three-run double by Michelle Van Duyn. Coach Mason's squad scored two more in the fifth off a two-run single by Stacey Godfrey which scored Curry and Lizz Swanson.

Game two featured a pitcher's dual between Briar Cliff starter Camille Cruz and Red Raider starting pitcher, Gavi Burrola. The teams'  combined for just five hits, three by the Chargers and two by Northwestern. Coach Mason's squad scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning when Sara Curry tripled with two outs and scored off an BCU error on a ball hit by Stacey Godfrey. It was enough for Burrola who evened her record to 7-7 this season. The junior gave up three hits and struck out two in 5 2/3 innings. Determan pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for her second save and became the school's single season strikeout leader with a strikeout of Jennifer Kruckenburg to lead off the seventh inning. This was the third consecutive shutout by the Red Raider pitching staff and increased their scoreless streak to 22 innings.

Northwestern will host Morningside on Thursday, April 24 at 5/7:00 pm in another GPAC doubleheader.