Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened up its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) season with a pair of shutout wins over UW-Stout Saturday afternoon at North Campus Field. The Eagles, winners of five straight overall, won the opener 2-0 and the nightcap, 5-0.  UW-L improves to 16-6 overall and 2-0 in the WIAC while UW-Stout falls to 8-18 overall and 0-6 in the conference.  The Eagles now lead the all-time series, 36-19.

In game one, Megan Nelson and Katie Klein combined to throw a five hit shutout. Nelson earned the win (6-3) going 5.1 innings, allowing two hits and three walks with three strikeouts.  Klein earned her sixth save of the season, pitching 1.2 innings, allowing three hits while striking out two.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on Nelson's solo home run to left field. UW-L added to its lead in the sixth inning after Emily Holldorf scored on an Emilie Wiltzius' groundout to make it 2-0 UW-L.  Holldorf led the inning off with a double down the left field line.

Holldorf went 2-for-3 while Nelson went 1-for-3 with a home run. Wiltzius finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and Mary Kate Pryor went 1-for-1 with a walk.

Tori Workman (7-9) suffered the loss for UW-Stout, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing five hits, two runs and two walks with six strikeouts.  Taylor Workman went 2-for-3 for the Blue Devils.

In game two, Jessie Carignan and Heather Grelle combined for the victory. Carignan (6-1) earned the victory, throwing 5.0 innings allowing six hits with one strikeout. Grelle went 2.0 shutout innings allowing one hit while striking out two.

Holldorf hit a one-out single in the bottom of the first to get a rally started where the Eagles pushed four runs across. Nelson doubled to left center followed by a Wiltzius' fielder's choice scoring Holldorf for the first run of the game.  Alecia Faber drove in Nelson on a single to left field to make it 2-0.  Jenny Gallagher added a two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded to give UW-L a 4-0 advantage.

Nelson scored after UW-Stout's second error in the bottom of the second to make it 5-0.

Gallagher went 2-for-3 with two RBI while Nelson finished 1-for-3 with two runs. Holldorf, Erin Maletzke, and Faber all had a hit.

Beth Wood (0-9) took the loss for UW-Stout, going 1.0 inning, allowing four hits, four runs and one walk.  Taylor Workman went 2-for-3.

UW-L returns to action Sunday, April 12 hosting UW-River Falls in a doubleheader starting at noon at North Campus Field.