La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened its home schedule with a doubleheader sweep of Saint Mary's University (Minn.) Wednesday afternoon at North Campus Field. The Eagles took the opener, 6-2, and the nightcap, 4-2. UWL improves to 12-12 on the season while Saint Mary's (Minn.) drops to 17-5. Saint Mary's (Minn.) is receiving votes on this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 Poll.
In the opener,
Elise Weinzierl (4-4) earned the complete-game victory. She pitched 7.0 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out five.
Abbey Bosch went 5-for-7 with four RBI
in the doubleheader.
Saint Mary's (Minn.) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Makayla Steffes singles to lead-off the inning and stole second. She scored on a Megan McGinnis single with the first run of the game. McGinnes scored as Ali French reached on a UWL throwing error to make it 2-0.
UWL came back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
Kyra Lard singled with two outs and advanced to third on
Jordyn McCormack's double. Both runners came in on
Abbey Bosch's two-run single to tie the game.
Anna Jensen hit a two-run home run in the opener.
The Eagles scored four times in the sixth. McCormack doubled with one out, went to third on a Bosch single and scored on
Nicole Zoellner's sacrifice fly to give UWL a 3-2 lead.
Maddy Bornbach's double knocked in Bosch for a 4-2 advantage.
Anna Jensen followed with a two-run home run to make it 6-2.
UWL had eight hits as McCormack and Bosch both went 2-for-3. McCormack scored twice while Bosch scored twice.
Steffes (9-3) took the loss for Saint Mary's (Minn.), pitching 4.0 innings. She allowed four hits and four runs while striking out two. The Cardinals finished with seven hits. Steffes went 3-for-4 and McGinnis 2-for-4.
Saint Mary's (Minn.) got the scoring started in the top of the fifth in the nightcap. Kenzie Gatz singled with one out and advanced to second on a Steffes' single. McGinnis followed with a single to load the bases and Gatz came in on a French sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. UWL tied it in the bottom of the fifth.
Brooke Howard singled, stole second and went ot third on
Cristin Casey's fly to centerfield. Lard reached on a Saint Mary's (Minn.) error and stole second. After McCormack walked to load the bases, Bosch had a bunt single for an RBI to score Howard to tie the game.
The Eagles took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Lindsay Steien singled with one out and went to second when Howard reached on a throwing error. Casey's bunt single loaded the bases. After a force out at home, McCormack delivered a go-ahead two-run double to knock in Howard and Casey for a 3-1 lead. Bosch's infield single scored Lard to make it 4-1.
Jordyn McCormack had three hits on Wednesday.
The Cardinals cut it 4-2 in the top of the seventh. Karli Zetah and Gatz singled to start the inning. After an out, Zetah advanced to third on a Eagles' passed ball. Zetah later scored on a UWL fielding error, but Saint Mary's (Minn.) left two runners on base to end the game.
Remington Stark (5-1) picked up the win, pitching 6.0 innings, allowing six hits, two runs (one earned) and three walks with five strikeouts.
Carmen Follette earned the save, going 1.0 inning. UWL totaled 10 hits as Bosch finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Casey and Bornbach each went 2-for-3 while McCormack had two RBI. Howard scored twice.
Gatz (1-1) took the loss, going 6.0 innings, allowing 10 hits, four runs (one earned) and three walks while striking out one. Saint Mary's (Minn.) finished with six hits. Gatz went 2-for-3.
UWL returns to action Saturday, April 13 opening its Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) schedule with a doubleheader at 23rd-ranked UW-Oshkosh at 2 p.m.
