La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened its 2017 home schedule with a doubleheader split with Saint Mary's University (Minn.) Sunday afternoon at North Campus Field. The Cardinals took the opener, 4-1, before the Eagles came back to win the nightcap, 6-3.  UWL, tied for 24th on this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 Poll, is now 16-4 on the season while Saint Mary's (Minn.) is 6-8.

The Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the first two innings in the opener Sunday. Ashley Betzold got the scoring started with an RBI double to knock in Brittney Birkhauser with an earned run to make it 1-0.  Betzold later scored on Kathi Opsahl's single.

Saint Mary's (Minn.) added to its lead in the top of the second on Birkhauser's two-out two-run double for a 4-0 lead.

UWL cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the second as Ashley Lindstrom scored on Sarah Stewart's two-out double to left field. The Eagles could get no closer, leaving four runners on base in the final three innings.

Caitlyn Hughes (5-2) suffered the loss for UWL, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) with two strikeouts. Katie Klein went 5.0 innings, allowing two hits while striking out two. Lindstrom finished 2-for-3 as the Eagles had six hits.

Betzold (6-5) earned the win for Saint Mary's (Minn.), pitching 7.0 innings, allowing six hits, one run and two walks with two strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Jessie Carignan (6-0) earned the win for UWL. She pitched 6.0 innings, allowing three hits, one unearned run and one walk with one strikeout.

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Brittany Baldwin scored on Stephanie Cole's RBI groundout. Kerrigan Koch and Stewart's back-to-back doubles made it 2-0 in the second.  UWL led 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth as pinch-runner Brooke Baldwin came in on Jenny Gallagher's two-out single.

Saint Mary's (Minn.) cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth on a UWL throwing error.  The Eagles responded in the bottom of the inning as Cole came in on Grace Mindrup's single for a 4-1 advantage.  Stewart scored on a double steal and Gallagher came in on Cole's double in the bottom of the sixth to give UWL a 6-1 lead. Birkhauser's two-run home run in the seventh finished the scoring.

UWL tied its season-high with 13 hits as seven starters recorded at least one. Cole, Sydney Murphy, Koch, Stewart and Gallagher each had two hits. Cole finished with two RBI.

Amber Trendle (0-2) suffered the loss for Saint Mary's (Minn.), pitching 5.0 innings, allowing 11 hits and five runs (four earned). Birkhauser went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.

UWL returns to action Thursday, March 30 in a non-conference doubleheader at the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) at 3:30 p.m.