Warriors Fall To NYU, Springfield On Final Day At Sunkissed Games

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College softball team fell in its final two contests at the Sunkissed Games Friday afternoon to NYU 20-11 in eight innings and then dropped a 4-0 contest to Springfield.

THE BASICS

• Final Scores: NYU 20, Wisconsin Lutheran 11 (8 Inn.); Springfield 4, Wisconsin Lutheran 0
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (5-5), NYU (5-4), Springfield (9-1)
• Location: Osceola Softball Complex, Kissimmee, Fla.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Violets got on the board in the top of the first inning when Courtney Friday launched a two-run homerun to center field.
• Diana King added two more runs in the top of the second when she singled to left field, then NYU added one more run off of an RBI single.
• The Warriors got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when Brea Johnson (Cumberland, Wis.) ripped a single up the middle, scoring Katelyn Mulholland (Oakfield, Wis.).
• Diana King added three more runs for NYU with a triple to left center, then scored on an RBI grounder, making the score 9-1.
• WLC stormed back in the bottom of the sixth when Taylor Bjork (Horicon, Wis.) doubled, scoring Gracie Wilson (Deerfield, Wis.). Jessie Rago (Elgin, Ill.) drove in Karah Ritacco (Chicago, Ill.) with a groundout, then Johnson singled up the middle, which allowed Bjork to cross home plate.
• With the bases loaded in the seventh, Ritacco ripped a bases-clearing double to left center, then Bjork tied the contest at 9-9 with a two-run homerun.
• Heading into extra innings, the Violets exploded for 11 runs in the top of the eighth, powered by seven hits, including three doubles.
• The Warriors attempted a comeback, with Megan Belongia (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) driving in Ellen Davis (Greendale, Wis.), who started the inning on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule, then Ritacco drove in Belongia with a sacrifice fly to make the score 20-11.
• Bjork led the way with a 3-for-4 effort, driving in four runs. Ritacco went 2-for-5 and drove in three runs.
• Five different Warriors scored two runs in the game and three WLC players collected multiple hits.
• Rago was handed the loss for WLC, allowing seven runs over 2.1 innings, with only three earned runs.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• Springfield scored in the top of the second inning after Allie Wheeler doubled to lead off the inning, then Meghan Sastram hit a double of her own to plate Wheeler.
• Wheeler singled up the middle in the bottom of the third inning to drive in a run, putting the Pride ahead 2-0.
• WLC threatened in the top of the fifth when Davis singled through the left side of the infield and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but the Warriors were unable to drive in Davis.
• The Pride added two runs in the bottom of the fifth when Kirsten Drobiak launched a solo homerun to left field, then Shelby Allen drove in Wheeler with a single, making the score 4-0.
• Johnson led the top of the seventh inning off with a walk, then advanced to second on an error, but the WLC was unable to capitalize and fell 4-0.

FOR THE FOES

• Seven different NYU players collected hits, while five collected multiple hits.
• Diana King went 3-for-5 with seven RBIs, and five other Violets drove in runs in the victory.
• Four different Springfield batters drove in runs in its game two victory.
• Talia Loda earned the complete game victory, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.

UP NEXT

• The Warriors wrap up their spring break trip with a 5-5 record and return home to face Mount Mary March 24. The Blue Angels open up their season March 23 with a doubleheader against Alverno.