Mankato, Minn. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team opened its 2026 season Saturday at the Mankato Dome Games, dropping a pair of games.
The Eagles fell, 10-2 in five innings to fifth-ranked Saint Mary's University (Minn.) before a 4-0 loss to Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.).
Saint Mary's (Minn.), fifth on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Top 25 Poll, scored four runs in the bottom of the first and added two in the second and three in the third to take 9-0 lead. Naleyah Bork's two-run single got the scoring started in the bottom of the first scoring Makayla Steffes and Peyton Berg. A two-run single from Kenzie Gatz made it 4-0 with Abbie Stigler and Bork scoring.
Karli Zetah scored to extend the lead to 5-0 as Alexandra Gerber stole second. Gerber later scored on a Megan McGinnis RBI groundout. Stigler's solo home run in the third gave Saint Mary's (Minn.) a 7-0 lead and Rhiannon Carroll's two-run double made it 9-0.
UWL scored in the top of the fourth with
Bree Holmes coming in on
Josie Flom's two-out infield single.
Lindsay Steien's two-out double knocked in
Brooke Howard in the fifth to cut the lead to 9-2.
The Cardinals ended the game in the bottom of the fifth when Michaela Duffy scored.
UWL finished with six hits in the game, including two from Steien who finished 2-for-3.
Kaeley Niemiec suffered the loss, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing six hits, seven runs and two walks.
Saint Mary's (Minn.) totaled 12 hits with Berg, Bork and Gatz each finishing with two. Gatz earned the win, going 3.0 innings, allowing one hit while striking out four.
Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) scored twice in the top of the first. Hailey Petzel's single scored Caitlin Olafsson and Paige Gritzmaker.
The Golden Gusties added single runs in the second and third innings on RBI singles from Lauren Lambert and Carly Olson.
Brynne Bieri (0-1) took the loss for UWL. She pitched 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits, four runs and two walks with one strikeout.
Carmen Follette went 3.2 innings, allowing two walks while recording six strikeouts.
The Eagles had three hits with Steien finishing 2-for-3.
Maizie Anderson earned the complete-game victory for Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.). She pitched 7.0 innings, allowing three hits and three while striking out 11. The Golden Gusties finished with seven hits. Olafsson and Petzel each went 2-for-4.
UWL returns to action Saturday, February 28 with two contests in the Luther College (Iowa) Dome Games in Rochester, Minnesota. UWL faces the University of Northwestern (Minn.) at 3:30 p.m. and Buena Vista University (Iowa) at 7:30 p.m.
