Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
VERONA, Wis. – For the first time this season, the Edgewood College softball team split a doubleheader. The Eagles topped Concordia University Wisconsin 5-2 in game one behind a home run by Kristen Salvatore. However, the Falcons took the nightcap by the score of 6-1.
The Falcons (12-12, 4-4 NAC) opened the scoring early in game one as they tallied one run in the top of the first inning. However, the Eagles (7-9, 5-3 NAC) came right back and tied the game in the bottom of the inning. After a leadoff out, Pam Sommer crushed a triple down the right field line and scored when the next batter, Jessica Spitzer, laced single through the left side.
In the fourth inning it looked the like Concordia Wisconsin was going to take the lead as Emily Bennin led off the inning with a double. The Falcons put runners on the corners with no outs when the next batter reached on an error. However, pitcher Rachel Elliott got the next batter to hit a groundball back to the circle. Elliott then tossed the ball home to Salvatore at home to cut down the run. Elliott retired the next two batters to end the threat and keep the score tied.
The score would not stay tied much longer as the Eagles took the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Colleen Joyce started the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Elliott. Next, Monica Humphrey drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Salvatore then dealt the big blow as she took a full count pitch and deposited it over the left center field fence to give the Eagles a 4-1 advantage after four innings.
Concordia Wisconsin tallied one run in the fifth inning and had the bases loaded when the Eagles went to the bullpen. Claire Blake came in to pitch and got the first batter she faced to fly out to center field to end the threat and keep the Eagles' lead at 4-2.
Blake then tacked on an insurance run for the Eagles in the sixth inning when she hit a double that scored Karmen Dorshorst who pinch ran for Salvatore. In the seventh inning, Blake retired the first two batters before a walk and an infield single that brought the tying run to the plate. However, Blake got the next batter to pop out and give the Eagles the 5-2 victory.
Elliott earned her second win of the season as she threw four and two-thirds innings, allowing only two unearned runs. Blake earned her second save of the season in two and one-third innings of work. The Eagle offense was paced by Spitzer who went 2-for-3 with one run batted in.
Game two did not go as well for the Eagles as the Falcons jumped out early and never looked back. Concordia Wisconsin tallied two runs in each of the first two innings to take a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, Spitzer extended her hitting streak to 16-games with an infield single. Her hit was the only hit the Eagle tallied until the seventh inning as the Falcons' Jenna DiMaggio held down the Eagle offense.
The Falcons tacked on a couple insurance runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Of Concordia Wisconsin's six runs, only two were earned as the Eagle defense committed four errors in the contest.
In the seventh inning, Joyce led off the inning with a walk that was followed by an Elliott walk. Salvatore got the Eagles on the board when she crushed a single to the base of the left center field wall that scored Joyce to make the score 6-1. That was the way the game ended as the Falcons retired the next three batters to end the game and take the win.
Blake threw all seven innings in the circle for the Eagles. She gave up all six runs, only two of which were earned and struck out four Falcons. Offensively it was Spitzer and Salvatore who recorded the only two Eagles hits in the loss.
The Eagles will next play on Thursday when they travel to Dubuque, Iowa for a non-conference match-up with Loras College. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
