Mankato, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened its 2022 season with a split of games in the Bethany Lutheran Kwik Trip Invitational at the Minnesota State University, Mankato Dome. The Eagles earned a 5-2 win in eight innings over the University of Northwestern (Minn.) in their opener before falling 8-0 to Bethel University (Minn.). 

Northwestern (Minn.) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on Telma Roesler's single to score Briggs Carlson with an unearned run. 

UWL took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth. Jordyn McCormack led-off with a double and stole third after Katie O'Brien walked. Kyra Lard's single scored McCormack to tie the game and Kendra Leis followed with an RBI single to knock in O'Brien to give UWL a 2-1 lead. 

Northwestern (Minn.) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as Carlson singled home Grace Bentley. 

UWL tallied three runs in the top of the eighth. Leis was placed on second to start the inning following the international tie-breaker rule. After Hailey Jibben walked, Leis scored on a Northwestern (Minn.) error to give UWL a 3-2 advantage. Ellie Yaeger and Megan Scheidt each had RBI singles to make it 5-2.

Elise Weinzierl earned the complete-game win for UWL, going 8.0 innings, allowing nine hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk with six strikeouts. The Eagles had nine hits with Lard and Yaeger each finishing with two. 

Bethel (Minn.) scored a run in the top of the first in its win over UWL on Saturday. The Royals added three runs in the second, one in each of the third and fourth innings and two in the eighth. 

UWL was held to five hits. Ally Eden took the loss, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing four hits, four runs (two earned) and two walks with two strikeouts.

UWL returns to action Sunday, February 27 with a pair of games in Mankato. The Eagles face the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.) at 7 a.m. and Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) at 11:30 a.m.