Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened varsity play at the Tucson Invitational with a pair of losses Sunday. The Eagles fell 7-3 to Chapman University (Calif.) and 7-0 to 21st-ranked Central College (Iowa). UWL dropped to 0-4 on the season. 

Chapman (Calif.) scored a run in the first two innings in its win over UWL Sunday. Michaela Foisy scored on a Kristen Weiser sacrifice bunt in the top of the first inning while Hope Ballard scored on Kyra Gallego's single in the second.

UWL tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of unearned runs. Sarah Stewart's pinch hit single scored pinch runner Allison Oster to cut the lead to 2-1 and Sarah Mueller's sacrifice fly knocked in Kathryn Vander Schaaf to tie the game.

The Panthers responded with four runs on five hits in the top of the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. Sarah Sumida and Ballard each had RBI singles while Elizabeth Runge had an RBI double. Chapman (Calif.) scored its fourth run as Rhiannon Geving came in after Mallory Mathis was caught stealing. The Eagles cut the deficit to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth as Brittany Baldwin scored on a Panther's error. Weiser's RBI on a fielder's choice in the top of the sixth inning finished the scoring for Chapman (Calif.).

UWL was held to three hits in the game, one each from Mia Schmidtke, Vander Schaaf and Stewart. Caitlyn Hughes (0-2) took the loss for the Eagles, pitching a complete-game. She went 7.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, seven runs (five earned) and two walks with two strikeouts.

Chapman (Calif.) totaled 10 hits as Foisy, Sumida and Ballard each had two. Sarah Taketa (2-1) earned the win, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing three hits, three runs (none unearned) and one walk while striking out three. Samantha Whalen picked up her third save, going 3.0 innings with three strikeouts. Chapman (Calif.) had six errors in the game.

Versus Central (Iowa), the Dutch scored twice in the third inning and five in the fourth. Emily Walton had a two-run single in the third for Central (Iowa) while Shaye Witte had a two-run double in the fourth. Central (Iowa) is tied for 21st in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 Poll.

UWL had two hits in the game, both coming from Sabrina Scardamaglia. Sydne Shattuck (0-1) suffered the loss for the Eagles, going 3.1 innings, allowing eight hits, seven runs (five earned) and one walk with two strikeouts. Maddie Muelken pitched 3.2 innings, allowing five hits and three walks.

Central (Iowa) finished with 13 hits with Sara Tallman and Walton each having three. Mariah Fritz (6-2) earned the complete-game victory, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing two hits and three walks with six strikeouts.

UWL returns to action Monday, March 11 with a pair of games. The Eagles face Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) at 11 a.m. (Central) and Macalester College (Minn.) at 1 p.m. (Central).