Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Wisconsin Lutheran College softball team took on 18th-ranked North Central (Ill.) in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday at Shanower Family Field, falling 16-8 and 9-2.
The Warriors were able to strike first in the opener, as Jinny Curtis (Muskego, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) brought home Brittney Blazich (Bristol, Wis./Westosha Central) on a groundout to first. The Cardinals responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to put the score at 2-1. Amanda Walker had a three-run homer as part of a four-run NCC second that pushed its lead to 6-1.
Tara Degl'Innocenti (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) got back two runs for WLC in the fourth with a two-run single, but the Cardinals scored again in their half of the inning to make the score 7-3. The Warriors rallied to tie the game in the fifth, started by a Blazich solo homerun. Alicia Barbian (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) plated two with a double, and Degl'Innocenti added another RBI to knot the score at 7-7. The Cardinals held strong however, scoring four more runs of their own, making the score 11-7 after five innings.
WLC scored once more in the sixth, but couldn't do any further damage. The Cardinals finished off the game with five runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.
Kendra Thomas (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) took the loss, allowing 11 earned runs in 5.2 innings. Blazich finished 4-for-4 with three runs and a RBI, while Degl'Innocenti drove in three runs on 2-for-3 at the plate.
Andrea Starr struck out five batters, allowing eight runs to earn the victory and move to 9-1 on the season. Walker went 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Cecie Portillo and Carly Trenhaile both scored three times for NCC.
The Cardinals offense picked up where they left off to begin game two, scoring four times through the first three innings to jump out to a 4-0 lead. WLC got on the board in the fourth, taking advantage of a throwing error to score twice and cut NCC's lead in half.
The Cardinals (21-3) added five more runs over the remainder of the game to put the final at 9-2. Bri Kiel scattered five hits over 7.0 innings and struckout 10 to move to 4-0. Trenhaile and Vlasta Mangia each drove in two runs.
Libby Larsen (Menasha, Wis./Menasha) gave up six earned runs and was charged with the defeat. Alex Hackel (Crete, Ill./Illinois Lutheran) drove in a run, while Kaitlyn Robison (Andalusia, Ill./Rockridge), and Jenny Rechlicz (West Allis, Wis./Nathan Hale) both scored a run.
The Warriors (14-12, 6-4 NACC) return home from a six-game road trip Saturday with a doubleheader against conference opponent Benedictine (12-9, 6-4 NACC). First pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m. at Warrior Field.
