UW-La Crosse 4, Univ. of Redlands (Calif.) 1

Whitewater, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team earned a 4-1 victory over the University of Redlands (Calif.) Friday afternoon in an elimination game at the NCAA Division III Regional at van Steenderen Field at UW-Whitewater. The Eagles, now 37-8 on the season, advance to play Carthage College (Wis.) at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Redlands, which finishes its season at 32-14, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second Friday. Amanda Doeppel was hit-by-pitch with one out and then stole second base. After a line-out, the Bulldogs'  Molly Duran hit an RBI single to score Doeppel.

The Eagles, who lost 4-3 to Aurora University (Ill.) in their first game Friday, tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth. Jenna Ahnen opened the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second on Cara Salm's bunt. Katie Keyes followed with a run-scoring double to tie the game, but UW-L failed to score the remainder of the inning, leaving the bases loaded.

UW-L took its first lead of the tournament in the top of the fifth with two runs. Rachel Croak started the rally with a single and moved to second on Rachel Weyer's sacrifice bunt. Ahnen followed with an RBI triple to score Croak and give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Salm reached on a fielder's choice bunt to knock in Ahnen.

Croak opened the top of the seventh with a bunt single and scored as Ahnen reached on a Redlands' error.

Heather Schultz (23-3) earned the win for UW-L, pitching her second two-hitter of the day. She went 7.0 innings against Redlands, allowing two hits and one run with eight strikeouts.

Ahnen was 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI while Croak finished 2-for-3 with two runs.

Breanna Ruelas (11-7) suffered the loss for Redlands, going 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits and three runs with a strikeout. Duran was 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Bulldogs.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, May 14 in the NCAA III Regional versus Carthage (Wis.) at 10 a.m.