La Crosse, Wis - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team extended its winning streak to six games as it defeated the University of Dubuque (Iowa), 5-2 and 8-3, Sunday afternoon at North Campus Field in its home opener. The Eagles improve to 14-7 while the Spartans fall to 6-14. 

In game one, the Eagles scored first as Kyra Lard reached on a one-out single and advanced to third on a single by Jordyn McCormack. Marissa Pease then drove in Lard with an RBI single to give the Eagles an early 1-0 lead. In the top of the second, Cayla Cavanagh tied the game at 1-1 with a home run for the Spartans. Anna Jensen led UWL's half of the second inning with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Megan Scheidt. Abby Bosch then singled to score Jensen to make it 2-1. Bosch stole second and scored on a Lard single. McCormack's double scored Lard to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead. 
 

With the score still 4-1 in the fourth inning, UWL scored a run after Scheidt doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a single by McCormack. The Spartans would get a run in the sixth inning on sacrifice fly by Dariann Diorio to cut their deficit to 5-2. Dubuque (Iowa) would get a one-out double in the seventh inning; however, UWL's Remington Stark struck out the next two Spartans to end the game. 

As a team, UWL finished with 11 hits led by McCormack who went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Lard was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Pease finished 2-for-3 and an RBI. 

Elise Weinzierl (6-4) earned the win on the mound for the Eagles as she allowed one run on two hits while striking out five in 5.0 innings. Stark pitched the final two innings for the Eagles allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts. 

Dubuque (Iowa) finished with five hits, including Cavanagh going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Jaelyn Blakemore (0-5) suffered the loss for the Spartans as she gave up five runs on 10 hits while striking out two in 4.0 innings of work. 

Game two saw UWL jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as it scored two runs on three hits and an error. The Eagles' first three hitters (Bosch, Lard, McCormack) reached with singles. Pease would then reach on an error to score Bosch while Lard scored on a sacrifice fly by Hailey Jibben. With the score still 2-0 going into the fourth inning, the Spartrans scored two runs on no hits, three walks and a fielder's choice to force a 2-2 tie. UWL would regain the lead in its half of the fourth inning on an RBI single from Lard to take a 3-2 lead. 
 

Dubuque (Iowa) would once again tie the game up at 3-3 as it scored an unearned run on a passed ball in the fifth inning. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles recorded four straight singles by Madi O'Brien, Nicole Zoellner, Bosch and Lard. Bosch's single drove in a run while Lard's drove in two. McCormack gave the Eagles an 8-3 lead with her fifth home run of the season scoring Lard. UWL would only allow one more base runner for the Spartans over the final two innings. 

UWL finished the nightcap with 15 hits, including four hitters having multi-hit games. Bosch finished 3-for-5 while Lard and McCormack were both 3-for-4 and Scheidt 2-for-3. Lard drove in three runs and McCormack scored twice. Madi Lee (2-1) came on in relief for the Eagles to earn the win on the mound. Lee allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out three in 2.2 innings. Ally Eden made the start for UWL as she gave up two runs on no hits and two walks while striking out two in 3.1 innings. 

Dubuque (Iowa) finished game two with just one hit. Ally Gullette (3-4) suffered the loss allowing eight runs (five earned) on 14 hits and one walk in 5.0 innings. 

UWL will return to action on Tuesday, April 4 hosting Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.). Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.