Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team split a pair of games at the Tucson Invitational Games Thursday.  The Eagles fell 9-1 in six innings to Denison University (Ohio) before bouncing back to earn a 12-1 victory in five innings over Marian University (Wis.).  UW-L is now 9-1 on the season.  

Against Denison, the Big Red got started early scoring to in the bottom of the first inning.  Julie Rooney led off with an infield single followed by a Kerry Hager bunt single.  After an Erin Laswell walk, Meghan Edwards singled up the middle scoring Hager and Rooney to make it 2-0.  

Denison increased its lead in the bottom of the third inning.  Laswell and Edwards led off with a pair of doubles followed by a two-run home run by Gretchen Staubach for a 5-0 lead.  Ryan Lee followed with a double to left center.  Rachel Laughlin singled and stole second to have two runners in scoring position.  After a ground out, Denison was able to push two runs across on a Heather Larson single down the left field line scoring both Laughlin and Lee to make it 7-0.  Larson advanced to second on the throw home.  Rooney flied into a double play ending the Denison rally.  

UW-L responded with a solo run in the top of the fourth inning.  Alecia Faber had a lead-off double and advanced to third on a single by Megan Nelson.  Kelli Anderson then singled through the left side, scoring Faber to cut the lead to 7-1.  UW-L left the bases-loaded to end the inning.

Denison scored one run in the fifth and one in sixth inning earn the victory. Laughlin singled in the fifth inning and later scored on a Hager single.  Edwards led off the sixth inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Staubach would later double scoring Edwards.  

Megan Nelson suffered the loss for UW-L, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing six runs with three strikeouts.  

At the plate, Nelson led the Eagles going 3-for-3.  Faber, Anderson, and Emilie Wiltzius each added a hit while Faber scored the lone Eagles' run.  

UW-L bounced back in the second game of the day against Marian (Wis.) earning the 12-1 victory in five innings.

UW-L was able to break open the scoreless game in the bottom of the second. Nelson and Anderson singled with one out.  After a fielder's choice for the second out, Mary Kate Pryor reached on an error to load the bases. Katrina O'Keefe followed with a three-run double to make it 3-0.

The Eagles plated nine runs in the third inning for a 12-0 lead.  Faber and Katie Fink opened the inning with singles. Lindsey Sheehan reached on an error with Faber scoring.  Nelson was then able to score Fink and Sheehan on another error by the Sabre second baseman.  Anderson followed with a two-run home run. 

Wiltzius also belted a home run to add to the UW-L lead.  Pryor doubled followed by a O'Keefe infield single to advance pinch-runner Lane Dickman.  Katie Krech singled to score Dickman and move O'Keefe to third.  Krech advanced to second on the throw.  Greta Gumness then pinch hit for Faber and was able reach on an infield single and advanced to second on the throw to the plate.  The infield hit scored both O'Keefe and Krech.  The Eagles tallied nine runs in the inning on nine hits with the help of two Sabre errors.  

Marian scored its run in the top of the fifth inning.  Lydia Cloud led off with a single and later scored on a fielder's choice by Gabby D'Oronzo.  

Jessie Carignan earned the victory for UW-L, allowing two hits with four strikeouts.  

Anderson finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored while O'Keefe was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.  Fink also was able to add two hits for the Eagles and one RBI.  Nelson and Gumness both added two RBI for UW-L.  

UW-L returns to action on Friday, March 21 against Grinnell College (Iowa) at 11 a.m. followed by Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) at 1 p.m.