MELBOURNE, Fla. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College split a pair of non-conference games on Thursday at the USSSA Space Coast Complex, defeating Fitchburg St., 9-3, before falling to Nebraska Wesleyan, 5-3, during the Space Coast Spring Games.
Wisconsin Lutheran 9, Fitchburg St. 3
The Warriors jumped in front with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After a walk and single put two runners on, sophomore
Maritza Martinez (Kenosha, Wis.) tripled to left field to score two runs. Freshman
Peyton Crutcher (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) followed later in the inning with an RBI single to right center to give WLC a 3-0 lead.
The Falcons answered with two runs in the top of the second with a two-run single to center, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Wisconsin Lutheran responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Junior
Madison Heller (South Milwaukee, Wis.) tripled home a run and junior
Julianna Alloy (Harrison Township, Mich.) followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2.
FSU added a run in the fourth, but the Warriors kept their offense rolling later in the game. In the fifth, freshman
Rebecca Reddeman (Canton, Mich.) and sophomore
Daylanna Morgese (Milwaukee, Wis.) each drove in runs with singles to make it 7-3. WLC added two more in the sixth when Crutcher singled home a run and another scored during a rundown after a caught stealing to cap the scoring at 9-3.
Martinez led Wisconsin Lutheran at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI, and a triple. Junior
Sommer Krull (New London, Wis.) added three hits, while Crutcher finished with two hits and two RBI.
In the circle, freshman
Emma Lighthizer (Kenosha, Wis.) earned the win in relief after tossing two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore
Teagan Piven (Plainfield, Ill.) recorded her third save of the season, striking out three over three hitless innings to close out the victory.
Brianna Lynch took the loss for Fitchburg St. (1-6). Chloe Bafundo had two hits to lead the Falcons' offense.
Nebraska Wesleyan 5, Wisconsin Lutheran 3
The Warriors opened the scoring in the top of the first inning. Alloy singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Martinez to give WLC a 1-0 lead.
The Prairie Wolves answered in the bottom half with an RBI double tie the game at 1-1.
Wisconsin Lutheran regained the lead with two runs in the third. Heller reached on a bunt single and eventually scored on Martinez's second sacrifice fly of the game. Later in the inning, sophomore
Natalie Jordan (Cincinnati, Ohio) crossed the plate on a passed ball to extend the lead to 3-1.
NWU chipped away with a run in the third on an RBI single make it 3-2. Nebraska Wesleyan then tied the game in the fourth with another RBI single to center field. The Prairie Wolves took the lead in the fifth inning with an RBI single and sacrifice fly for a 5-3 advantage.
The Warriors were held hitless over the final four innings as NWU pitcher Jaedyn Ratzlaff worked a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits while walking three.
Morgese led WLC with two hits, while Alloy, Krull, and Heller each added a hit.
Jenna Kimberling and Paige Comstock each had three hits for Nebraska Wesleyan (7-5).
Wisconsin Lutheran will conclude play at the Space Coast Spring Games on Friday with games against Rivier (0-6) at 10 a.m. ET and St. Catherine (8-4) at 12:15 p.m. ET. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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