La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team dropped a doubleheader to Wartburg College (Iowa) Wednesday afternoon in the Eagles' home opener. The Knights earned a 7-1 win in the opener and 9-1 in five innings in the nightcap.

UWL drops to 9-7 on the season with Wartburg (Iowa) improving to 13-5.

The Knights took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second in the opener. Liz Kruckenberg singled with one out and went to second on Addy Wells' two-out walk. Kruckenberg then scored after stealing third and scoring on an Eagles' throwing error. 

UWL tied the game in the bottom of the third. Josie Flom led off with a single and went to second on an error. Ava Jaehnke's groundout moved Flom to third and Chloe Brown followed with an RBI triple to score Flom to make it 1-1.

Wartburg scored three times on three hits in the top of the fourth. Carley Bredar doubled to score Alexis Larson to give the Knights a 2-1 lead. Bredar went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Wells' sacrifice bunt to make it 3-1. Wells later scored on Ally Happ's two-out single for a 4-1 advantage.

Wells hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth to score Sophie Stanic and Kruckenberg to make it 7-1.

Carmen Follette (2-2) suffered the loss for UWL, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing three hits and three runs while striking out three. Brooklyn Bigalke started for the Eagles, going 2.0 innings, allowing two hits, one run (unearned) and two walks with three strikeouts. Claire Springer pitched 1.0 inning, allowing three hits and three runs with one walk with Brynne Bieri going 2.0 innings with one strikeout.

Flom and Brown had one hit each.

Hannah Hoefer (6-1) picked up the complete-game win for Wartburg (Iowa), pitching 7.0 innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out six.  Kruckenberg finished 2-for-4 with two runs while Wells had four RBI. 

In the nightcap, the Knights scored twice in the top of the first on sacrifice bunts from Jenna Wiebenga and Larson. A Reagan Hassel double in the top of the second scored Bredar to make it 3-0.

Happ and Kruckenberg both scored unearned runs for Wartburg (Iowa) in the top of the fourth for a 5-0 lead. Hassel had an RBI double. The Knights tallied four runs in the top of the fifth as Happ drew a bases-loaded walk and Bredar a sacrifice fly to make it 7-0. Rylie Metz' two-run single extended the lead to 9-0.

UWL scored its run in the bottom of the fifth. Laci Heppell walked and went to second as Flom reached on a fielding error. Jaehnke followed with an RBI single to score Heppell.

Bieri (0-3) suffered the loss, going 3.2 innings, allowing six hits and five runs (one earned) while striking out five. Bree Holmes went 0.2 of an inning, allowing three runs and three walks with one strikeout while Kaeley Niemiec also pitched 0.2 of an inning, allowing two hits, one run and one walk while striking out one.

Jaehnke, Heppell, Brooke Howard and Kasey Brouchoud each had one hit for UWL.

Katelyn Klever (4-3) earned the victory, pitching 4.1 innings, allowing four hits, one run (unearned) and two walks with one strikeout.

Hassel went 4-for-4 with one run and two RBI while Happ scored twice and Metz had two RBI.

UWL returns to action Thursday, March 26 with a non-conference doubleheader at St. Olaf College (Minn.) at 3 p.m.


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