ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Concordia-St. Paul softball team (15-26, 9-9 NSIC) dropped their first games at home this season as they were swept by Northern State (23-16, 10-6 NSIC) on Saturday afternoon at Carlander Field. The Wolves cruised to an 8-0 game one win in five innings before pulling away for an 11-7 win in game two.
 
Northern State 8, Concordia-St. Paul 0 (5 inn.)
The Wolves exploded for eight runs in the second en route to downing the Golden Bears 8-0 in in five innings. NSU hurler Kami Smesmo (15-7) got more than enough help from her offense as she held Concordia to just two hits and a walk while striking out one in the complete game shutout.
 
After rallying but failing to score in the first, the Wolves got on the board in the second. NSU put the leadoff runner on via a Concordia error before Rachel Albright and Michaela Liebl hit back-to-back homers to quickly build a 3-0 lead. That wouldn't be all for the Wolves in the second as they used a few more CU miscues along with a three-run home run off the bat of Eryn Yancy and a two-run double for Albright's second  run scoring hit in the inning to make it 8-0.
 
That would be all of the scoring for the game as Linzy Heim (2-5) pitched a scoreless third before giving way to Amber Galloway, who worked two scoreless innings in relief. Heim worked the first three innings as she allowed eight runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out three. Galloway made her collegiate debut in the circle and didn't fail to impress as she struck out three hitters and allowed a lone single but faced the minimum as she coaxed a double play as well.
 
Lizzy Swenson came off the bench in the bottom of the second to deliver the Golden Bears' first hit of the game with two outs but Smesmo retired the next hitter to end the inning.
 
The only other hit for Concordia nearly extended the game in the fifth as Sarah Kivisto nearly hit her first career home run with a deep fly ball that hit off the top of the wall and stayed in play in left. Smesmo once again worked out of the jam to complete the shutout.
 
Northern State 11, Concordia-St. Paul 7
Both teams wasted no time to light up the scoreboard as they each put up three runs in the first.
 
The Wolves used a walk and a pair of singles to open the game before a double down the right field line off the bat of Brittney Lash plated two runs. Albright brought in another run on a single to center to build a 3-0 lead before an out was recorded. Concordia starter Stephanie Kappes worked some magic to escape the inning as she worked out of the jam without allowing another run to cross the plate.
 
Concordia started in a similar fashion as they loaded the bases with three straight singles to open their half of the first. A pair of groundouts brought home the first two runs before Swenson delivered a run scoring single up the middle to tie the game at three.
 
After NSU took the lead back in the second with a run without collecting a hit, the Golden Bears took their first lead of the day with three in the bottom of the inning. Haley Schanks and Liz Jarosz picked up the big hits in the inning as Schanks drove in two with a two out single and Schanks followed with a run scoring single to give CU a 6-4 advantage.
 
It would be short-lived as Northern State responded with three in the third and another in the fourth to build a two-run cushion at 8-6. Concordia's defense aided the NSU attack in the third as all three runs were unearned with just one hit in the inning. Lash, Albright and Engel strung together three hits in a row in the fourth to add the insurance run.
 
The Golden Bears got a run back in the fifth as Swenson stayed hot with a line drive single to right with one out before Sarah Kivisto connected on a double to the gap to bring her home.
 
The Wolves then went to the bullpen and brought in game one starter Kami Smesmo to close the door. CU gave her some trouble in the sixth as Kelly McKenzie got the inning started with a base hit and moved up to second as Jamie Fleischhacker battled and drew a walk. Smesmo buckled down to coax three straight fly outs to escape unscathed.
 
She would receive a little more breathing room the next half inning as Kelsey Gale launched a two-run homer to left and Yancy chipped in another run with an RBI double to bring the score to 11-7.
 
Concordia was retired in order in the seventh as Smesmo picked up her first save of the year with 2.2 shutout innings. Missy Elkins (7-8) got the win for the Wolves as she worked the first 4.1 innings and allowed seven runs (four earned) while walking three and striking out one.
 
Kappes (9-15) took the loss for CU as she worked 6.2 innings before giving way to Galloway, who picked up the final out.
 
CU had eight different players pick up hits as Swenson and McKenzie led the way with two hits apiece.
 
The Golden Bears will have another short layoff as they are back on their home field on Tuesday as they play host to Upper Iowa. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.