St. Paul, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse dropped a non-conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in a match-up of nationally-ranked teams. The Tommies, ranked 25th in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), earned a 3-0 win in the opener and 4-3 in the nightcap over the Eagles, ranked 22nd in the NFCA. UWL falls to 16-6 on the season while St. Thomas (Minn.) improves to 13-3.
It marks the third win for St. Thomas (Minn.) over UWL this season after a 4-3 victory February 25 in Rochester, Minnesota.
In Thursday's opener, Sammy Hogan (5-1) earned the win for St. Thomas (Minn.), pitching 7.0 innings, allowing four hits while striking out two. The Tommies took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on Jenna Bromen's two-run single to score Ellie Wachman and Megan Bush. St. Thomas (Minn.) added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth when Keaira Caldarera scored on a UWL throwing error. The Tommies totaled seven hits in the game.
UWL was held to four hits in the opener as
Stephanie Cole,
Sydney Murphy,
Ashley Lindstrom and
Jenny Gallagher each finished with one. The Eagles left four runners on base, including a pair in the top of the sixth inning.
Jessie Carignan (6-1) took the loss for UWL, pitching her second complete-game of the season. She went 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks while striking out two.
St. Thomas (Minn.) scored single runs in the second and third innings in the nightcap to take a 2-0 lead. Elise Barnes' RBI single in the second inning scored Bush to make it 1-0 and Chase Shortly's solo home run in the third gave the Tommies a 2-0 advantage. Brenna Walek's two-out two-run home run in the fifth made it 4-0.
UWL got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth on Cole's three-run home run to score
Brooke Baldwin and Gallagher. The Eagles had the tying run on second base with one out in the top of the seventh, but failed to score.
The Eagles were held to three hits as Cole finished 2-for-3 with the three-run home run.
Ally Perdue went 1-for-1 as a pinch hitter.
Caitlyn Hughes (5-3) suffered the loss, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing five hits, four runs and three walks with two strikeouts.
Katie Klein pitched 1.1 innings, allowing one hit.
Jessica Eppenberger (8-2) earned the win for St. Thomas (Minn.), going 6.0 innings, allowing three hits, three runs and two walks while striking out three. Hogan picked up her second save of the season, pitching 1.0 inning. The Tommies had six hits in the contest.
UWL opens up Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play Saturday, April 1 at UW-Whitewater in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.
