Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College softball team split two games Wednesday afternoon in its third day of action at the Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida. The Warriors defeated Susquehanna 7-4 in the first game of the day, then fell 11-3 to Arcadia in five innings.
THE BASICS
- Final Scores: Wisconsin Lutheran 7, Susquehanna 4; Arcadia 11, Wisconsin Lutheran 3
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (4-2), Susquehanna (5-5), Arcadia (2-6)
- Location: Osceola Softball Complex, Kissimmee, Fla.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- The River Hawks got on the board in the top of the first inning after a walk, sacrifice bunt, and a single to left center field.
- WLC answered in the bottom of the first when Megan Belongia (Ashwaubenon, WIs.) walked and Arianna Sanchez (Itasca, Ill.) ripped a single through the right side of the infield. After a sacrifice bunt, Taylor Bjork (Horicon, Wis.) dribbled a grounder up the middle, allowing Belongia and Sanchez to score off of a throwing error, putting the Warriors ahead 2-1.
- Jessie Rago (Elgin, Ill.) followed with a line-drive double into the right-center gap, plating Bjork and Abby Mahsem (South Mlwaukee, Wis.), who reached on a walk, extending the lead to 4-1.
- Karah Ritacco (Chicago, Ill.) continued the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single through the left side, scoring Belongia who had walked to start the inning.
- Ritacco scored after a dropped pop fly in the infield, pushing the Warriors lead to 6-1 after two innings.
- Susquehanna got a run back in the top of the fourth inning after a two-out RBI single through the right side by Jill Ahrens, but Mahsem limited the damage and got the third out to keep the Warriors ahead 6-2 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
- The River Hawks loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but Mahsem escaped the jam with two straight pop-outs to end the inning.
- After a leadoff double and a single to follow, Susquehanna used a sacrifice fly to score one run, but Mahsem limited the damage again to just one run with a strikeout and a running catch by Brea Johnson (Cumberland, Wis.) in foul territory.
- Sanchez singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth for the Warriors, then two straight infield singles by Mahsem and Ellen Davis (Greendale, Wis.) loaded the bases for WLC with two outs.
- Rago saw four straight pitches go by as balls to allow another run to score, increasing the Warriors lead to 7-3 heading into the top of the seventh inning.
- In the seventh, the River Hawks got a run back after an infield hit that scored Kasey Bost, who led off the inning with a single and advanced on to third with two outs.
- Mahsem closed out the game with a groundout to Bjork at first base, giving the Warriors the 7-4 victory.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
- Belongia started off the contest with an infield single, then Sanchez laid down a sacrifice bunt that the Knights fielded, but an errant throw allowed Belongia to cross home plate.
- Arcadia answered in the bottom of the first inning when it posted an eight-run inning, powered by eight hits, including a two-run triple and a two-run homerun.
- Mahsem led off the top of the second inning with a shot to second base that caromed off the glove of an Arcadia fielder, allowing her to reach third base. Davis drew a walk and then WLC executed a double steal, plating Mahsem, making the score 8-2.
- Arcadia added to its lead in the bottom of the second with a double down the right field line from Kristin Cancelliere, driving in two runs.
- In the bottom of the third, Ritacco drew a walk with one out and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. Mahsem followed with a single to the right side of the infield that allowed Ritacco to cross home plate, making it 10-3 in favor of the Knights.
- Neither team scored in the following innings until Hunter Schantz launched a solo shot over the fence in right to end the game in the fifth inning via run rule.
FOR THE FOES
- Kelly Miller led the way for Susquehanna with a 3-for-3 effort while three different River Hawks drove in runs.
- Amanda Seckinger took the loss, allowing five runs in one inning, with only one earned run.
- Three different Arcadia batters posted 2+ hits while Kristin Cancelliere led AC with a 2-for-2 showing, driving in five runs.
- Kylee Schwind picked up the victory for the Knights, throwing five innings while only allowing one earned run, striking out 10 batters.
UP NEXT
- The Warriors continue play in Kissimmee Thursday afternoon as they take on SUNY-Plattsburgh (3-5) and Wooster (1-3). Both opponents had a day off Wednesday before facing WLC. First pitch against Plattsburgh is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CST.
