Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Edgewood College softball team opened Northern Athletics Conference play the way everyone hopes, with a pair of road wins against MSOE. Emily Monson led off game one with a triple and the Eagles never looked back, taking game one 10-5. Game two was a tighter than the first, as the Eagles had to come-from-behind and held on for the sweep with the 4-3 win.

Monson started the double header with a triple to left center and later scored on a Jessica Spitzer ground out to give the Eagles an early one run advantage.

The game remained 1-0 behind great pitching by Bria Hahn as she sat down the Raiders in order in the first two innings. The Eagles then extended their lead in the third inning when Monson started a rally with a leadoff walk. Hahn followed with a double down the right field line before coming in to score on an error. With two outs in the fourth inning, Karmen Dorshorst singled and stole second before Monson drove her in with a double to put the Eagles up 4-0 after four innings.

Edgewood College stretched their lead to 7-0 after scoring three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Carlene DeCoster and Monica Humphrey each recorded run scoring hits in the frame. In the bottom half of the inning, MSOE scored five unearned runs, four off of relief pitcher Brittany Andrews. Hahn re-entered to record the final out of the inning after giving up the fifth run.

The Eagles tacked on one run in the sixth inning on a Spitzer single that scored Dorshorst who started the inning with an infield single. Edgewood College also scored two insurance runs in the seventh inning as Dorshorst drove in one with a single and Monson ripped another run scoring double to put the Eagles up 10-5. Hahn gave up a pair of hits in the bottom of the inning, but got out of the jam to give the Eagles the 10-5 win in game one.

Monson and Dorshorst led the Eagles in game one as Monson when 3-for-4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored while Dorshorst also went 3-for-4, drove in one and scored three runs. Hahn struck out four in six and one-thirds innings of work while earning her third win.

The nightcap was more of a pitcher's duel than the first game with neither team plating a run until the fourth inning, but the Eagles (7-9) did leave the bases loaded in the second inning. DeCoster and Humphrey started the fourth inning with back-to-back singles before being sacrificed to second and third. DeCoster then scored on a two-out single by Dorshorst to put the Eagles on top.

MSOE (0-8) came right back in the bottom of the inning as Lianna Campos registered a one-out single and Jessica Iverson followed with a walk. Rebecca Gardner then followed with a double to bring in both runners and give the Raiders a 2-1 lead.

However, the Eagles did not wait to respond as Spitzer started a rally with a one out single before Pam Sommer followed with a single. DeCoster drove in Kayla Rackow, who pinch ran for Spitzer. DeCoster then stole second before Humphrey drove in Sommer with a single and Jessica Diaz singled to score DeCoster and put the Eagles up 4-2.

In the sixth, MSOE tallied a run as Courtney Leaf reached on an error to start the inning, and scored on an Elise Pinkerton single to get the Raiders within one run. The next batter, Julie Windish ripped a double to put runners on second and third with only one out. However, Charlie Leikness got out of the jam by inducing consecutive ground outs to keep the Eagles in the lead. Leikness then sat the Raiders down in order in each of the final two innings to give the Eagles the 4-3 victory and the sweep.

Leikness went the distance in the circle and struck out five hitters while walking just two. Humphrey and DeCoster paced the Eagle offense with both going 3-for-4 while Humphrey drove in one run and DeCoster scored two runs.

The Eagles will have their home opener on Saturday when they host Lakeland College. Edgewood College will provide both live stats and live video for the 12:00 p.m. first pitch.