Gurney hurls no-hitter; Wolves take twinbill against Dakota Wesleyan

April 7, 2002

No hits for you! -- Junior pitcher Amy Gurney winds up during her no-hitter Sunday against Dakota Wesleyan.

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Northern State rebounded from two disappointing losses Saturday by breaking out the bats for a 13-0 and 8-4 sweep of Dakota Wesleyan University Sunday in a non-conference doubleheader at Manor Park in Aberdeen.

In the first game, junior pitcher Amy Gurney (Yankton) pitched her first career no-hitter, holding DWU bats useless until the game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the eight-run rule. In the meantime, Northern's bats came alive after struggling Saturday against Wayne State (Neb.). The Wolves exploded for 16 hits and scored five runs in the first inning to set the tone.

Ozzie makes the play -- Senior third baseman Nicole Osborn gobbles up a DWU grounder and makes the throw over a ducking Gurney to record the out at first Sunday.

In the second game, the Wolves fell behind early but rallied with a six-run fifth inning that turned a 1-3 hole into a 7-3 advantage. Freshman pitcher Samantha Guinn (Mountain Lake, Minn.) picked up the win on the mound, while senior utility phenom and team captain Kristen Bottomley (Rapid City) sparked her team by winning a home plate collision with the DWU catcher to score NSU's go-ahead run at 4-3.

Many Wolves fared well at the plate on the day, but the team was led by 5-for-7 performances from Guinn and junior outfielder Stacey LeDuc (Spearfish). Freshman second baseman Tiffany Poirier (Austin, Minn.) jacked her first career homerun and led the Wolves in RBI with five on the day.

Northern (5-6 overall) will resume conference play Wednesday, hosting Southwest State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. in Manor Park.