MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Edgewood College softball team hoped to open 2013 season with a pair of wins and the Eagles got strong pitching performances in both games, but some late heroics in the first game led to a split. The Eagles fell 1-0 to Finlandia University in the first game, but responded with a 6-2 win over UW-Superior.

Junior Charlie Leikness toed to rubber in against Finlandia and she couldn't have asked for a better start to the season. After allowing a single to the second batter of the first inning, Leikness shut down the Lions and didn't allow another hit through four innings while tallying five strikeouts. The Eagles also faced a good pitcher in Finlandia's Miranda Brew who held the Edgewood College hitless through five innings before Dylan Bahrke ripped a single. Bahrke stole second a play later, but couldn't cross the plate and was stranded at second.

Karlie Klossner came into close out the game for the Eagles and after walking the first two batters, she found herself in a jam. After a sacrifice advanced both runners, Klossner got the next two batters to ground out without allowing a run to score. Still scoreless through six innings, Kate Landon doubled and then was pushed to third on a single by Bahrke, but a strikeout and groundout prevented the Eagles from plating any runs. In the bottom half, Edgewood College forced two quick outs, but a walk, a single, and an Eagle error put runners at second and third. The next batter, Finlandia's Paige Yoho ripped a walk off double, sending the Eagles to a tough, one run loss.

In the second game, Edgewood College featured another great pitching performance, this time by Rachel DeJongh. The freshman tossed four hitless innings before Klossner took over on the mound. What this game featured that the first contest did not was the hitting by the Eagles. Right away in the first inning, the bases were loaded after two walks and a UW-Superior error. Two runs scored on a Jackie Diesch fielder's choice and another Yellowjacket error. Edgwood College added another run in the fourth on a double by Tiffani Pierce.

UW-Superior was able to get a run in the fifth inning to cut their deficit to two runs, but a three run home run by Bahrke pushed Edgewood College's lead to 6-1. The Yellowjackets plated one more run in the seventh, but Diesch finished the game on the rubber and the Eagles took the win.

Bahrke was a star at the plate for the Eagles, going 3-for-5 on the day with three runs batted in. DeJongh sat down all 12 batters she faced in the 6-2 victory over UW-Superior.

Edgewood College is back in action Saturday as they face UW-Stevens Point and Mount Mary College. On Sunday, the Eagles will have games against Simpson College and Loras College to wrap up their Finlandia Dome Tournament trip.