Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Tucson, Ariz. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team dropped a pair of games Tuesday, falling 8-2 to Whittier College (Calif.) and 7-2 to 23rd-ranked Central College (Iowa). The Eagles are now 5-9 overall.

Whittier (Calif.) scored four runs in the bottom of the second in its win over UWL. Kelly Nutter had a two-run single to start the scoring and Emily Adkison added a two-run double later in the inning. The Poets added to their lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth on Adkison's single. 

UWL cut it to 5-1 in the top of the sixth. Brooke Howard doubled, went to third on Cristin Casey's sacrifice bunt and scored on Kyra Lard's RBI ground out. Whittier (Calif.) came back with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-1. Heaven Wolf had an RBI single for Whittier (Calif.). UWL finished the scoring in the seventh as Abbey Bosch scored on Marissa Pease' run-scoring single. 

Claire Springer took the loss for UWL, pitching 1.0 inning, allowing four hits, four runs and one walk. Six different players recorded a hit for the Eagles. 

Bella Peinado earned the victory for Whittier (Calif.), going 7.0 innings, allowing six hits, two runs and one walk with three strikeouts. The Poets finished with 11 hits as Adkison went 3-for-3 with one run and three RBI. Nutter and Lily Stell each went 2-for-3. 

Central (Iowa), ranked 23rd on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 Poll, took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Emma Johnson and Franie Burnett singled with one out. Megan Stuhr followed with an RBI single to knock in Johnson with Burnett advancing to third. Rylee Dunkin's ground out scored Burnett for a 2-0 lead. 

UWL cut it to 2-1 in the bottom of the second. Abbey Bosch, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on Nicole Zoellner's sacrifice fly. 

The Dutch tallied five times in the third inning to take a 7-1 advantage. Haley Bach tripled to start the inning and scored on Johnson's sacrifice bunt for a 3-1 lead. Johnson later scored on a Dunkin fielder's choice and Burnett came in on a UWL error. Hannah Higgins' run-scoring single knocked in Dunkin and Megan Doty scored on Mariah Parton's RBI ground out. 

The Eagles scored a run in the fifth as Lindsay Steien scored on a double steal with Kyra Lard. 

Elise Weinzierl suffered the loss for UWL, pitching 3.0 innings, allowing six hits and seven runs (five earned). Remington Stark went 4.0 innings in relief, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. Five different players recorded a hit for the Eagles. 

Sydni Huisman earned the victory for Central (Iowa), going 7.0 innings, allowing five hits, two unearned runs and one walk with three strikeouts. The Dutch had seven hits with Johnson going 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI while Burnett finished 2-for-4 with two runs. Dunkin had two RBI. 

UWL returns to action Thursday, March 14 versus Salve Regina University (R.I.) at 9 a.m. (Mountain) and Eastern Connecticut State University at 11 a.m. (Mountain).