WLC Splits Opening Day At Space Coast Spring Games

MELBOURNE, Fla. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College kicked off its spring break trip with its first victory of the season, using a five-run fourth inning en route to a 10-4 victory over Fitchburg St. on Sunday in game two of the Space Coast Spring Games. The Warriors dropped a 13-3 decision in five innings in the opener against Nebraska Wesleyan at USSSA Space Coast Complex.
 
GAME 1
The Prairie Wolves got on the scoreboard first with a pair of unearned runs in the opening frame before WLC answered with a run-scoring single from freshman Kylie Gaston (Albertville, Minn.), plating sophomore Alea Anhalt (Fond du Lac, Wis.), who got the two-out rally started with a double. NWU broke the game open with nine runs over the next two innings, all coming with two outs. Wisconsin Lutheran got a pair back in its half of the third with Gaston's two-run single. Nebraska Wesleyan added single runs in the final two innings en route to the run-rule victory.

The Warriors were led by Gaston and Anhalt, who each went 2-for-2 and added three RBI and two runs scored, respectively. Senior Gwen Malecke (Gilberts, Ill.) added two hits of her own in the contest. Freshman Teagan Piven (Plainfield, Ill.) did not allow an earned run in 1.1 relief innings for WLC.
 
For the Prairie Wolves (4-1), Lyndsey Roth and Jenna Kimberling each recorded three hits and totaled nine RBI between the duo. Elise Warneke earned the victory in the circle, allowing three runs in 5.0 innings.
 
GAME 2
The Warriors wasted no time scoring to start game two as sophomore Madison Heller (South Milwaukee, Wis.) led off the game with a bunt single before a Malecke walk. Anhalt plated both runners with a two-run triple before scoring herself on Gaston's single, giving WLC a 3-0 lead just four batters into the game. The Falcons retook the lead, 4-3, in the second, plating four runs on six hits. Wisconsin Lutheran knotted the score again in the fourth as freshman Mia Alejo (Sacramento, Calif.) scored on a double from senior Allison Powers (Sun Prairie, Wis.). Two more runs scored for the Warriors on another bunt single from Heller with a throwing error by FSU. With the bases loaded in the frame, WLC gained some insurance runs with a two-run double by sophomore Julianna Alloy (Harrison Township, Mich.). Wisconsin Lutheran added single tallies via Gaston and Malecke in each of the final two frames to close out the 10-4 victory.
 
The Warriors (1-5) tallied 12 hits as a team, led by two hits apiece by Heller, Anhalt, Gaston, and Powers. Senior Melissa Tonn (West Allis, Wis.) earned her first win of the season in 5.0 innings of work inside the circle. Piven scattered a single hit in 2.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Eight different players recorded a hit for Fitchburg St. (1-1), while Adria McKenzie had two hits with n RBI and run scored. Sydney Gabay allowed just one earned run in 1.1 relief innings for FSU.

WLC continues play at the Space Coast Spring Games with two games against Anna Marie (1-2) and Baldwin Wallace (0-0) on Monday with first pitches scheduled at 12:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET, respectively, at the USSSA Space Coast Complex. Live coverage links for both games can be found at WLCSports.com.