Stars take two close games from Warriors

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Wisconsin Lutheran College softball team took on conference opponent Dominican on Saturday, dropping both games of a Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader 5-1 and 4-1 to the Stars.

In game one, Dominican was the first team to get on the scoreboard, scoring in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The game remained a pitchers' duel between Dominican's Jori Cicale and WLC's Jocelyn Bykowski (Greendale, Wis./Greendale) for the next four and a half innings with the score remaining 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Stars jumped on Bykowski for four more runs to bring their lead to 5-0. WLC scored their lone run of the game in the top of the seventh when sophomore Jenny Rechlicz (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) singled home sophomore Emily Sievert (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago).

Bykowski took the loss for WLC, allowing two earned runs on three hits in six innings. Rechlicz went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Sievert drew a walk and scored a run. Freshman Dayan Gacgacao (Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young) and junior Lauren Mantz (West Bend, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) each added a hit.

Cicale earned the win for Dominican, giving up just two hits and not allowing any runs while striking out seven in six innings. Tayler Miller went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored to lead Dominican. Sarah Budz also went 1-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.

Dominican got on the scoreboard first again in game two, taking a 2-0 after the first inning. DU got to junior starting pitcher Katie Timm (Franklin, Wis./Franklin) for two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to push its lead to 4-0.

In the top of the seventh, Timm led off the inning with a single and was lifted for pinch runner Andria Wolske (Eau Claire, Mich./Grace Christian). Wolske later scored on a sac fly from sophomore Jinny Curtis (Muskego, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) to cut the lead to 4-1, but the Warriors were unable to continue the rally.

Timm took the loss for the Warriors, giving up four earned runs in six innings. Timm and Gacgacao each had a hit for the Warriors, their only two of the game.

Emily Mahoney picked up the win for Dominican (17-17, 10-8 NAC), allowing just two hits and one earned run with eight strikeouts through seven innings. Allie Evans went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Budz added an RBI and scored a run on 3-for-4 at the plate.

The Warriors (10-18, 4-10 NAC) continue conference play on Sunday with a doubleheader against cross-town foe Alverno (13-17, 6-10 NAC). First pitch at Alverno Field is scheduled for 12 p.m.