Softball Drops Two In Spring Break Opener

CLERMONT, Fla. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College softball team opened its 2020 spring break trip with a pair of games Monday morning, falling in five innings to Northwestern (Minn.) before dropping an 8-4 tilt against Lake Forest at Legends Way Ballfields in The Spring Games.

• Final Scores: Northwestern (Minn.) 9, Wisconsin Lutheran 0; Lake Forest 8, Wisconsin Lutheran 4
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (1-3), Lake Forest (5-2), Northwestern (Minn.) (3-8)
• Location: Legends Way Ballfields #3, Clermont, Florida

• The Eagles opened the game with back-to-back hits, including a double to left center to score first. A single back through the box scored the runner from second giving Northwestern a 2-0 after its half of the first.
• In the bottom of the first, junior Gracie Wilson (Deerfield, Wis.) and freshman Jena Almodovar (Romeoville, Ill.) singled to put a pair of runners on for the Warriors, but a double-play ended the scoring chance.
• Freshman Hanna Gibbons (Markesan, Wis.) and sophomore Ileana Fierro (Chicago, Ill.) combined to give up just one hit over the next three innings, keeping Wisconsin Lutheran within striking distance heading into the fifth inning.
• Northwestern opened up the game in the fifth with sixth straight hits, including a two-run double and two-run single up the middle. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Eagles ripped a triple down the right field line which cleared the runners and gave them a 9-0 victory.

• The Warriors scored first against the Foresters, as senior Karah Ritacco (Chicago, Ill.) scored on a throwing error.
• Lake Forest answered with three runs in the second inning to take a 3-1 lead. Following a triple to right, the Foresters scored a run on a fielder's choice, and then later scored a second run on an error. The final run came on a single to right, but a second runner was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
• WLC regained the lead in its half of the third, scoring three times. Almodovar singled to open the inning, and later scored on a double by sophomore Jules Morini (Chicago, Ill.). Senior Davina Gutierrez (Chicago, Ill.) drove home a run with a single to center field, and freshman Bailie Hess (Tinley Park, Ill.) slapped a single to right to make the score 4-3.
• The Foresters tacked on three in the fourth, scoring two on an error then adding one more on a double to right center. Two more would score in the bottom of the sixth on a trio of hits to give Lake Forest an 8-4 advantage.
• Senior Melissa Ericson (Lisle, Ill.) singled and senior Ellen Davis (Greendale, Wis.) walked in the top half of the seventh for Wisconsin Lutheran's rally attempt but failed to cross the plate.
• Sophomore Aerin Moberg (Wheaton, Ill.) had two hits in the game for the Green and White. 

• Kayla Hannasch and Courtney Schmidt each had a pair of hits, and drove in seven of the nine runs for the Eagles. Lexi Kopacek threw all 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits for her second win of the season.
• Shaye Gauthier picked up the win for the Foresters, tossing 4.1 innings and allowing no runs on three hits. Seven different Lake Forest hitters reached base, led by two hits from Brie Gauthier.

• The Warriors continue their spring break trip with a pair of games tomorrow in Clermont. Wisconsin Lutheran will face Penn St.-Berks (0-4) at 10:30 a.m. CST and Cornell College (3-3) at 12:30 p.m. CST.