Softball Battles For A Big Road Sweep Over Ashland

OVERVIEW – Ashland

SCORES: Northwood 7, Ashland 5 (10 Inn.) / Northwood 3, Ashland 1

RECORDS: Northwood (22-18, 15-7 G-MAC), Ashland (27-14, 15-5 G-MAC)

LOCATION: Archer Complex – Ashland, Ohio

RECAP: Northwood's softball team extended its hot stretch on Saturday (April 25), sweeping a key G-MAC road doubleheader at Ashland with a dramatic extra-inning victory in game one, 7-5, followed by a 3-1 win in game two.

GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Northwood struck first in the opening inning as Delanie Gale came around to score on a passed ball, giving the Timberwolves an early 1-0 edge.
• The game remained tight until the fourth inning when Ashland tied it on an RBI double, evening the score at 1-1.
• After the intense pitcher's duel, Northwood finally broke through in the ninth. Northwood capitalized on a pair of Ashland miscues before Brinley Eckerman delivered the big hit with an RBI single to make it 3-1. Meredith Frey and Lakyn Karr both came around to score on the knock.
• Gale later followed with an RBI single, and Ashley Ziel added an RBI double over to the center fielder's head to extend the lead to 4-1.
• Ashland answered in the bottom of the ninth, taking advantage of errors and timely hitting to score four runs and briefly grab a 5-4 lead.
• Northwood responded in the 10th inning, putting together another clutch rally. With runners on, Chloe Cooper lined a two-RBI single to left to bring home Ashlyn Lundquist and Saylar Cuthrell, putting Northwood back in front 6-5.
• An additional insurance run crossed in the inning, giving the Timberwolves breathing room at 7-5.
• Dalaney Gage shut the door in the bottom half, retiring the side to secure the extra-inning win after Kamden Binney's strong nine-inning effort in the circle.

GAME ONE STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 7/12/2, Ashland 5/8/3
• Runners left on base: Northwood 10, Ashland 7
• Winning Pitcher – Kamden Binney (13-7) 9.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
• Save -  Dalaney Gage (2) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R
• Losing Pitcher – Delaney Lis (8-7) 10.0 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 3 ER

 TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Delanie Gale: 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R 
• Chloe Cooper: 2-4, 2 RBI
• Ashley Ziel: 2-5, 2B, RBI
• Brinley Eckerman: 2-6, RBI
• Ashlyn Lundquist: 1-3, 2 BB, R

GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Northwood wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Ashley Ziel drove in Delanie Gale with an RBI single before Ashlyn Lundquist followed with another RBI base hit to make it 2-0.
• Ashland answered with a solo home run in the bottom half, but Northwood's pitching took control from there.
• Dalaney Gage backed up her game one save and settled in, delivering a complete-game effort, limiting Ashland to just one run on five hits while keeping the Eagles off balance throughout.
• The Timberwolves added an important insurance run in the seventh. Delanie Gale reached and later scored on Ashley Ziel's second RBI single of the game, pushing the lead to 3-1.
• Northwood closed out the win behind clean defense and steady pitching to complete the sweep.

GAME TWO STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors: Northwood 3/8/0, Ashland 1/5/2
• Runners left on base: Northwood 7, Ashland 4
• Winning Pitcher – Dalaney Gage (8-6) – 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Losing Pitcher – Olivia Amstutz (11-3) – 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Ashley Ziel: 2-4, 2 RBI, R
• Ashlyn Lundquist: 2-3, RBI
• Delanie Gale: 1-4, 2 R
• Jenna Kowalski: 1-4, 2B

NORTHWOOD NOTES AND CAREER MARKS TRACKER

• Several Timberwolves continue to move up the Northwood softball record books during the 2026 season. Delanie Gale had a standout day, tying two program milestones. Her four runs scored across the doubleheader brought her career total to 150, matching the program record set by Tara Tigner (1997–2000). She also collected five total bases on the day, pushing her career total to 357, which ties Tonya Hospelhorn (1993–1996) for the all-time program lead.
• Northwood has now won seven straight matchups with the Eagles, 10 of the last 11, and 15 of the last 18 dating back to April, 24, 2018.

UP NEXT

• Northwood finishes up the regular season slate on Sunday (April 26) at Ohio Dominican, with first pitch set for noon.