University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse softball team split its non-conference doubleheader with third-ranked Saint Mary's University (Minn.) Wednesday afternoon at North Campus Field.
The Eagles took the opener, 1-0 in nine innings, before the Cardinals came back to win the nightcap, 4-0. UWL snapped Saint Mary's (Minn.) 17-game winning streak in the victory in the opener.

UWL is now 18-12 on the season while Saint Mary's (Minn.) is 31-3. The Cardinals are ranked third in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top 25 Poll.

Carmen Follette (8-3) earned the complete-game victory in the opener with her 9.0 inning shutout. She allowed two hits and four walks while striking out three. Saint Mary's (Minn.) did not record a hit until Peyton Berg's two-out single in the top of the seventh.  

Carly Gross recorded the first hit in the game, a two-out single for UWL in the bottom of the third. The Eagles' Lindsay Steien walked to lead-off the bottom of the sixth and Brooke Howard's fielder's choice retired Steien. Kasey Brouchoud followed with a one out single to put two runners on base, but Cardinals' starter Makayla Steffes retired the final two batters of the inning.

After Berg's single with two outs in the top of the seventh for Saint Mary's (Minn.), Megan McGinnis walked. Pinch-runner Cora Nelson and McGinnis each stole a base to get into scoring position, but Follette got Naleyah Bork to foul out for the third out.

UWL scratched out a run in the bottom of the ninth. Brouchoud singled to start the inning and replaced by pinch-runner Bree Holmes. Marissa Pease doubled to put runners on second and third. Amber Gonzalez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Steffes was replaced by Kenzie Gatz, who then walked Josie Flom on a full-count to give UWL the 1-0 win.

The Eagles had five hits in the opener with Brouchoud finished 2-for-4.

Steffes (16-2) suffered the loss, pitching 8.0 innings, allowing five hits, one run and three walks with six strikeouts. The Cardinals finished with two hits.

Gatz (14-1) came back in the nightcap to earn the complete-game shutout for Saint Mary's (Minn.). She went 7.0 innings, allowing three hits with four strikeouts.

The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Erin Parker led-off with a bunt single and advanced to second on McGinnis' sacrifice bunt. After a fly-out, Berg singled to move Parker to third. Berg forced UWL to throw down to second on the play and Parker came in with the game's first run.

Saint Mary's (Minn.) added to its lead with a pair of runs in the second on RBI singles from Emily Bonk and Samya Brown for a 3-0 lead. Bork's run-scoring single in the top of the third knocked in Steffes to extend the lead to 4-0.

UWL was held without a hit until Amber Gonzalez singled to lead-off the bottom of the fifth. The Eagles stranded two runners in the inning. 

Kaeley Niemiec (4-3) took the loss for UWL, going 2.0 innings, allowing four hits, three runs and two strikeouts. Claire Springer went 2.0 innings, allowing four hits and one run while Brynne Bieri pitched 3.0 innings, allowing two hits with one strikeout. 

Gonzalez, Flom and Brooke Howard had a hit for the Eagles.

Saint Mary's (Minn.) finished with 10 hits with Parker going 2-for-2.

UWL returns to action Saturday, April 25 hosting UW-Eau Claire in its regular season finale with the doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
 
 
 
  Read Full Article