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Box Score 2 Mankato, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened the 2023 season with a split Saturday in the Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) Kwik Trip Invitational at the Minnesota State University, Mankato Dome. In game one, the Eagles fell, 8-2, to Luther College (Iowa) before coming back to defeat Buena Vista University (Iowa), 6-0.
In the first game against Luther (Iowa), UWLs scored first as
Madi O'Brien led off the second inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Abbey Bosch. O'Brien advanced to third on a single by
Jordan Schultz and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Megan Scheidt. Luther (Iowa) tied the game in the bottom of the third when it scored an unearned run on a run scoring double by Abby Spore. The Eagles scored a run in the top of the fourth as
Kyra Lard drove in a run as she reached on an error for a 2-1 lead.
Luther (Iowa) took a 7-2 lead when it scored six runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sydney Schultz and Spore each drove in two runs on back-to-back doubles to highlight the inning for the Norse. The Eagles would threaten in the fifth inning as
Hailey Jibben and O'Brien started the inning off with back-to-back walks but the Norse would retire the next three batters to get out of the inning. Luther (Iowa) would get one more run in the sixth on an RBI double by Spore to make it 8-2.
Elise Weinzierl (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound for UWL as she allowed six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out two in 3.1 innings of work.
Remington Stark pitched the final 2.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four. Schultz led the Eagles' offense going three-for-four with a run scored while Lard and Scheidt each had a hit and RBI.
Versus Buena Vista (Iowa), UWL's Lard led off the game with a double and scored on a double by
Jordyn McCormack to take a 1-0 lead. Then in the third inning, it was Lard and McCormack teaming up again to score a run. Lard singled and scored on McCormack's second double of the game. McCormack scored on a sacrifice fly by O'Brien to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead in the third inning.
UWL would add a run in the fourth and fifth innings to give them a 5-0 lead. In the fourth,
Joette Kassa reached on an error to drive in
Hannah Lalk who reached via a walk. Then in the fifth inning, Schultz drove in a run with a single to score
Isabel Queenan who was pinch running for O'Brien. The Eagles would add a run in the top of the seventh as McCormack led off with a double and scored on a single by O'Brien.
Ally Eden (1-0) earned the win on the mound for the Eagles by striking out four in 5.0 innings of work.
Madi Lee came on in relief for the Eagles and allowed one hit while striking out five in the combined shutout.
UWL totaled 11 hits in the win. McCormack led the Eagles' offense with three doubles while Lard and O'Brien each had two hits. McCormack also had two RBI and two runs while O'Brien drove in two runs.
UWL returns to action on Saturday, February 25 when it travels to play in the Rochester Community and Technical College Dome (Minn.). In game one, the Eagles face St. Olaf College (Minn.) at noon followed by Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) at 4 p.m.
