WAUWATOSA, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College clinched its first Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament berth since 2019 following a Senior Day doubleheader sweep over Alverno by scores of 5-4 and 14-0 on Saturday at Neumann Family Field.

Game 1: Wisconsin Lutheran 5, Alverno 4
The Inferno (3-31, 1-21 NACC) struck first with two runs in the second inning, using a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Warriors (18-22, 10-14 NACC) answered immediately in the bottom half when freshman Peyton Crutcher (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) led off the inning with a solo homerun to left field to cut the deficit in half.

WLC took control in the third. Freshman Addyson Wheeler (Freeport, Ill.) sparked the rally with a double before freshman Katelyn Ruth (Canton, Mich.) delivered an RBI double down the right-field line to tie the game. Later in the inning, freshman Hannah Stellmacher (Fairwater, Wis.) followed with an RBI single up the middle to give Wisconsin Lutheran a 3-2 advantage.

The Warriors added to their lead in the fourth as freshman Rebecca Reddeman (Canton, Mich.) singled and eventually scored on junior Sommer Krull's (New London, Wis.) RBI single to left center, extending the margin to 4-2.

Ruth provided insurance in the fifth inning, blasting a solo homerun to right center to make it 5-2.

AC mounted a late push in the seventh, scoring twice on a homerun to pull within one, but WLC closed out the game to secure the win.

Wisconsin Lutheran totaled 12 hits in the contest, led by Wheeler (2-for-4, two doubles), Ruth (2-for-3, double, homerun, two RBIs), Stellmacher (2-for-3, RBI), sophomore Maritza Martinez (Kenosha, Wis.) (2-for-3), and Reddeman (2-for-3). Sophomore Teagan Piven (Plainfield, Ill.) earned the win in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits with four strikeouts over 4.0 innings. Sophomore Alyssa Dinnauer (Dousman, Wis.) picked up her second save, tossing the final three innings.

For Alverno, Giselle Moreno led the offense with two hits, including a homerun and two RBIs, while Alyssa Hubli also recorded two hits.

Game 2: Wisconsin Lutheran 14, Alverno 0 (5 Inn.)
The Warriors sent 18 batters to the plate in the first and piled up eight hits in the frame. The scoring barrage was highlighted by a three-run homerun, followed by a series of run-producing plays that included RBI singles, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, a fielder's choice, and a two-run double as WLC built a 14-0 advantage in the opening inning.

After the explosive first, Wisconsin Lutheran added four more hits over the next three innings but did not need additional scoring, as their pitching staff kept the Inferno off the scoreboard.

Ruth led the Warriors offensively, going 2-for-3 with a homerun and five RBIs. Wheeler finished 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and an RBI, while Stellmacher added a double and two RBIs. Reddeman and sophomore Kylie Gaston (Albertville, Minn.) each drove in two runs as part of the 12-hit attack. In the circle, Dinnauer earned the win, allowing just two hits over four shutout innings while striking out four and issuing no walks. Senior Emily Brands (Zeeland, Mich.) closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning.

The Inferno were limited to two hits in the contest, with Hailie Eschbach and Nadya Hudson accounting for AC's offense.

WLC makes its first NACC Tournament appearance since 2019 this week, traveling to Bedrosian Stadium in Montgomery, Illinois on Thursday, May 7 for a single elimination game. Wisconsin Lutheran's game time and opponent will be announced as soon as it becomes available.