It was a fast start that propelled the Northwestern softball team last week as they traveled to Tippecanoe to battle the Red Devils in a CBC crossover game. The Warriors scored five runs in the first inning to take control of the game, as rolled to a 6-2 victory over the Red Devils.

“We came out and hit the ball well which is something we really needed,” said Northwestern coach Malissa Johnson. “We struggled the last couple games, but the girls were focused the entire game.”

Northwestern went right to work, as leadoff batter Jamie Rutherford singled and stole second, immediately putting a runner in scoring position. Bry White then ripped a double to score Rutherford giving the visitors a quick 1-0 lead.

Rachel Martin then drove in a second run with a single to knock in White. One out later, Jenna Robbins singled and catcher Macie Crew drove in both runners with a double giving Northwestern a 4-0 lead.

The Warriors capped the scoring in the first inning when Abby Zerkle drove in the fifth run with a base hit, and Northwestern had a comfortable 5-0 lead.

From there, Tipp pitcher Sierra Sutton settled down and held the high scoring Warriors offense in check. Tipp did come back in their half of the first inning with a run, as Rachel Rusk led off with a single, and one out later Kaity Stocker singled. A walk to Hailee Varvel walked to load the bases and Northwestern sophomore ace Robbins saw her back against the wall. A sacrifice fly for Sutton put the Red Devils on the board, but Taylor Yeager grounded out to leave the bases loaded and Tipp trailed 5-1.

The Red Devils were hoping to chip away at the lead, as they added a run in the third inning when Stocker crushed her fourth homerun of the season to centerfield to cut the Northwestern lead to 5-2.

Northwestern’s offense was silenced by Sutton after the opening inning, as they only had one infield single until the fifth inning when Rachel Martin singled and stole second. She was left at second as Taj Knicely struck out and Robbins flew to Rusk in centerfield.

After leaving the bases loaded in the sixth, the Warriors added to their lead in the seventh when Knicely doubled, Robbins singled and Crew drove in a run with a ground out to third. The Red Devils tried to come back in the seventh as Kauffman and Rusk reached, but with Stocker the potential tying run in the on deck circle, Maddie Gibler popped out to end the game.

“Jenna (Robbins) did a nice job mixing up her pitches well and kept them on their toes,” Johnson said. “She has done a nice job this year and hopefully she continues to keep the batters on edge.”

Northwestern is now 14-3 with the tournament ahead.

*In the baseball game, Northwestern scored in the opening inning, and added two more runs in the third, as they shutout the Red Devils 3-0. Earning the win for the Warriors was Gage Vorhees pitching the shutout, while at the plate, Cole Brewer knocked in two runs with a pair of hits.