FOND DU LAC, Wis. – No. 2 seed MSOE softball battled No. 1 seed Concordia Wisconsin to a 10-inning win yesterday, and as fate would have it, the same two teams met on Saturday evening to determine the winner of the NACC North division. While the first game did not go the Raiders way, the Red & White's flair for the dramatic came in handy in game two as they claimed the North Division tournament title.

RESULTS
NACC North Division Championship Game One
No. 2 seed MSOE RAIDERS – 5
No. 1 seed Concordia Wisconsin – 11

NACC North Division Championship Game Two
No. 2 seed MSOE RAIDERS – 1
No. 1 seed Concordia Wisconsin – 0

HOW IT HAPPENED
No. 2 seed MSOE (31-7, 15-5 NACC North) grabbed an early lead in game one when Celine Pacheco hit a double to left field to plate the first two runs of the day. Unfortunately, that lead would not hold up. No. 1 seed Concorida Wisconsin (31-8, 18-2 NACC North) hit a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth and added six more in their half of the fifth after the Raiders tied things up in the top of the frame to take control of the contest. The Red & White scored a run in the seventh, but it was too little, too late in the 11-5 loss that sent both teams into the championship elimination game.

The word "elimination" did not phase starter Lorrin Pondo one bit as the senior threw one of the best games of her career, especially given the circumstances. Pondo went all seven innings and gave up just three hits. Another Falcons baserunner would reach via a walk but not a single one would cross home plate. As for the Raiders, they would only push across one but that was all that they needed. Sophomore Grace Salaja broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth when she belted a ball that sailed over the left fielder's head to score Delaney Martino. CUW would get two on in their last at bats but a tailor made 4-6-3 double play ended the ballgame and crowned the Raiders as North Champions.

WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will now go on to represent the North in the NACC Championship Series against Benedictine next weekend. Times and locations will be determined within the next few days.

For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at www.go-raiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.