MELBOURNE, Fla. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College scored all 13 runs in just two innings en route to a 13-0 victory in five innings over Franciscan in the first game on Tuesday at the Space Coast Spring Games. The Warriors earned a sweep in the split doubleheader on a sixth-inning go-ahead triple from freshman
Rebecca Reddeman (Canton, Mich.) to defeat Baldwin Wallace 4-3 at USSSA Space Coast Complex.
Wisconsin Lutheran 13, Franciscan 0 (5 inn.)
After WLC left a pair of runners on base in the first inning, it exploded for six runs in the second inning on five hits with four stolen bases. Reddeman got Wisconsin Lutheran on the board first with an RBI single up the middle to plate sophomore
Molly Kelly (Hortonville, Wis.) before freshman
Peyton Crutcher (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) stole home as part of a double steal to double the Warriors' lead to 2-0. Sophomore
Maritza Martinez (Kenosha, Wis.) cleared the bases on a double to score three runs and later came around to score on a two-out double to right center by freshman
Katelyn Ruth (Canton, Mich.) to expand WLC's lead to 6-0 at the end of the second inning.
In the fourth inning, Wisconsin Lutheran benefited from five walks, three hit by pitches, and four wild pitches to push its lead to 13-0. The Warriors' first three runs in the inning came via wild pitch before the first RBI in the inning came on a bases-loaded hit by pitch by sophomore
Natalie Jordan (Cincinnati, Ohio). Freshman
Anna Bracke (Brookfield, Wis.) singled home a run before junior
Sommer Krull (New London, Wis.) scored a pair to conclude the scoring for WLC.
Following allowing a leadoff single to start the game, sophomore
Brianna Wascher (South Elgin, Ill.) did not allow another hit in 4.0 scoreless innings to earn the win in the circle while freshman
Emma Lighthizer (Kenosha, Wis.) threw a scoreless final frame. As a team, Wisconsin Lutheran drew seven walks, five hit by pitches, and stole nine bases while not striking out in the contest. Junior
Madison Heller (South Milwaukee, Wis.) was the lone Warrior with a pair of hits, with Bracke, Kelly, and Crutcher each recording two stolen bases.
Janey Winner recorded the lone hit and stolen base for the Barons (1-5).
Wisconsin Lutheran 4, Baldwin Wallace 3
The Yellow Jackets threatened to score in the opening frame with the bases loaded, but sophomore Tegan Piven (Plainfield, Ill.) escaped the jam after a flyout to left field. After WLC loaded the bases on singles from Crutcher and Kelly and a BWU error, Reddeman got Wisconsin Lutheran on the scoreboard with a hit-by-pitch. Another run came around to score on an error before Krull extended the lead to 3-0 on a run-scoring single to plate Reddeman.
Baldwin Wallace knotted the game at 3-3 on a two-run single and a sacrifice fly in the third. Both teams traded scoreless innings as the game remained 3-3 through five innings.
Crutcher started the sixth-inning rally with an infield single and later stole second base after a pair of outs. With two outs, Reddeman lined a triple to center field to give the Warriors the late 4-3 lead. Piven returned to the circle to retire the final six Yellow Jackets to secure the win.
WLC tallied seven hits as a team, led by Reddeman's 2-for-2 performance with five total bases and a pair of RBI and Crutcher's 2-for-2 day and two runs scored. Wascher earned her fourth win of the season, allowing two earned runs in 3.0 innings. Piven earned her second save with 4.0 innings and just one run.
Katie Barnhart suffered the loss for BWU (3-1), allowing four runs, two earned, in a complete game effort. Mia Maddamma went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Wisconsin Lutheran (4-4) continues play on Thursday in Melbourne, Florida, at the Space Coast Spring Games with a split doubleheader against Fitchburg St. (1-5) and Nebraska Wesleyan (5-5) at 10 a.m. ET and 12:15 p.m. ET, respectively, at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.
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