Dubuque, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team earned a doubleheader sweep at the University of Dubuque (Iowa) Wednesday afternoon at UD Softball Field.  The Eagles won the opener, 2-1 in eight innings, and the nightcap, 6-2.  UWL improves to 11-9 overall in extending its winning streak to six. Dubuque (Iowa) falls to 4-14 on the season. 

UWL took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning in Wednesday's opener. Mia Schmidtke singled with one out and advanced to second on a Spartans' error.  She went to third on a groundout and scored on Dubuque's (Iowa) second error of the inning.

Dubuque (Iowa) tied the game in the bottom of the fifth after Brandy Heraty doubled and scored on Makenzie Kopp's single.  UWL had chances to score in the sixth and seventh innings, leaving two on base in the sixth and the bases-loaded in the seventh.  In the top of the eighth, Grace Mindrup hit a lead-off home run for the Eagles for a 2-1 advantage.  The Spartans were retired in order in the bottom of the eighth.

Katie Klein (2-1) earned the win, pitching 3.2 innings with three strikeouts.  Caitlyn Hughes started for UWL, going 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out three.  The Eagles finished with eight hits with Karissa Akey going 2-for-4.

Kopp (3-6) suffered the loss for Dubuque (Iowa), going 8.0 innings, allowing eight hits, two runs (one earned) and three walks with two strikeouts.  Four different players had a hit for the Spartans.

UWL took an early 1-0 lead in the nightcap.  Brittany Baldwin singled to start the game and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Sydney Murphy walked and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch.  After a foul out, Baldwin scored on Mindrup's sacrifice bunt for an RBI to start the scoring.

The Eagles added to their lead with two runs in the fourth.  Haley Radewan doubled to start the inning and scored on Kerrigan Koch's two-out double.  Koch later scored on the throw after Baldwin's bunt single.

Schmidtke's three-run home run in the top of the seventh gave UWL a 6-0 lead.  Dubuque (Iowa) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh on Morgan Jakel's RBI single and Gabrielle Marchese coming in on after obstruction was called on UWL.

UWL totaled eight hits in the nightcap as Baldwin finished 2-for-4 with two runs.  Schmidtke had three RBI.  Maddie Muelken (5-1) earned the win, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out two.  Sydne Shattuck picked up her first save, going 2.0 innings, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) with two strikeouts.

Dubuque (Iowa) had seven hits in the game with Jakel finishing 2-for-3.  Taylor Blair took the loss, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing eight hits, six runs (five earned) and two walks with one strikeout.

UWL returns to action Saturday, April 7 hosting UW-Eau Claire in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener.  It will also be the Eagles' home opener at North Campus Field.  Game one of the doubleheader starts at 1 p.m.