Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team dropped a pair of games against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) and Redlands University (Calif.) on Saturday, March 11 to start the Tucson Invitational Games. The Eagle fell 6-3 to RPI and 8-0 to Redlands. UWL is now 3-3 on the season.

UWL took an early 2-0 lead over RPI in their first loss of the day following three doubles from Kyra Lard, Jordyn McCormack and Jordan Schultz to start the top of the first. The Engineers would score four runs on two hits in the bottom of the first to take a 4-2 lead. Ales Ledger drove in three of the Engineers runs with a double.

After RPI scored a run in the second, the Eagles Jordan Schultz led off the third inning with a single and later scored on a single by Abbey Bosch. RPI would score an unearned run in the fourth for the final scoring of the game.
Five different batters recorded hits with Schultz leading the way with two. Schultz ended the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. McCormack was 1-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.

Ally Eden (2-1) suffered the loss for the Eagles as allowed four runs on two hits and a walk in 0.0 innings. Madi Lee, Elise Weinzierl and Remington Stark pitched the final six innings allowing two runs on seven hits, one walk and seven strikeouts.

Brooke Sroczinski (2-3) came on in relief for the Engineers to earn the win as she pitched the final four innings and did not give up a hit, walked four and struck out six.

Versus Redlands University, the Bulldogs scored first with two runs on one hit and two errors in the top of the first inning. UWL would threaten in the second inning after a triple by Anna Jensen but she would not score.
The Bulldogs would take a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning on a two-run homerun by Natalie Hort. The Bulldogs would add two runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the final score of 8-0.

Offensively, the Eagles were led by Jensen and Kyra Lard with two hits each. Weinzierl (2-2) suffered the loss for the Eagles as she allowed four runs on four hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Stark pitched the final two innings for the Eagles giving up four runs on six hits and two strikeouts.

Katlyn Gandara earned the win for the Bulldogs pitching a complete game shutout, allowing six hits, one walk while striking out seven.

UWL returns to action Sunday, March 12 against Webster University (Mo.) and Central College (Iowa) at 9:00 AM (MST) and 11:00 AM (MST) respectively.