Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

VERONA, Wis. – On a day where runs were at a premium, the Edgewood College softball team had to come from behind to earn a split with MSOE at Ceniti Park. The Eagles fell behind early in game one and had the tying run on third base, but could not push it across, dropping game one 3-2. However, after rallying to take the lead the first inning of game two, the Eagles had to hold off a late Raider rally to take the second contest 4-3.

Both teams got a hit and left one runner on base in the first inning of game one before the Raiders took the lead in the second. With a runner on first, Mikala Wendt laced a triple down the right field line to give MSOE the 1-0 advantage.

After the Eagles went down in order in the second inning, Alyssa Schulting sparked a rally with a leadoff double in the third inning. Jessica Diaz then sacrificed her to third before Emily Monson and Alexis Unser drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. However, Raider pitcher Sarah Altene induced a pair of groundouts to end the threat and keep the score at 1-0 in favor of MSOE.

Both offenses heated up again in the sixth inning, with the Raiders (3-15, 3-5 NAC) scoring two unearned runs in the top of the frame. Jessica Spitzer started the bottom half of the inning with a double down the left field line, and later scored on a Carlene DeCoster single. After a Kayla Rackow walk, Chandler Gloudeman laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. An error loaded the bases and Diaz drew a two-out walk to pull the Eagles within one. Nevertheless, Altene escaped again, this time getting a full count strike out to end the threat and keep the score at 3-2.

Altene then sat the Eagles down in order in the seventh to earn her first win of the season.

Spitzer led the Eagle offense, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored while Charlie Leikness threw all seven innings and only gave up one earned run.

Most of the action in game two came in the first inning. Following an out and back-to-back singles, the Raiders loaded the bases when Julie Windish reached on an error. Rebecca Gardner followed Windish and ripped a single into left center that scored two runs to put the Raiders up 2-0.

However, the Eagles (8-12, 1-5 NAC) were quick to answer as Monson started the bottom of the inning with a ringing single up the middle. After Monson, Unser reached on an error before Monson came in to score on a fielder's choice. Rackow then singled home Unser to tie the game before Tiffani Pierce dropped down a squeeze bunt that scored DeCoster to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.

After the first inning, pitchers Jessica Iverson and Brittany Andrews settled in as they didn't allow either offense to threaten until the fifth inning. It looked as though the Eagles would extend the lead in the fifth inning as Diaz started the frame with a double and Monson followed with an infield single. However, the Eagles couldn't push any runs across and the lead stayed at 3-2.

Following a pair of walks to start the MSOE sixth, Andrews re-entered the game and got three straight outs to end the threat and keep the Edgewood College lead intact. The Eagles added a much needed insurance run in the bottom of the inning as Katie Landon crushed a two-out double to left center that scored Schulting, who walked earlier in the inning.

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Elise Pinkerton led off the inning with a double and Windish singled to put runners on the corners with one out. A groundout scored Pinkerton and moved Windish, the tying run, to third base with two outs. However, Andrews induced a pop out to second base to end the game and earn her fourth win of the season.

Rackow and Monson led the Eagle offense, each going 2-for-3 at the plate with Rackow driving in one run. Andrews threw all seven innings and gave up three runs on seven hits.

Edgewood College will next be in action on Saturday when they travel to Lakeland College. First pitch from Sheboygan is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.