PEORIA, ILL. – The softball squad entered the second day of the Blue Angel Invite looking to get on the right track. They faced off with the Loras Duhawks and the Augustana Vikings. The Duhawks (2-1) rode a strong pitching outing for a 5-0 victory, but the Eagles (1-3) leveraged a strong relief outing and clutch hitting late for a 7-5 victory over the Vikings (2-2).
GAME ONE: LORAS 5, EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 0
- The Duhawks kicked off the scoring in the second. A sacrifice fly to left field left things at 1-0 after two. An RBI double tacked on another run in the fourth.
- Loras added on insurance runs as their pitching continued to clamp down on the Eagles' bats. A single scored a run from third in the sixth before a two-RBI double in the seventh put a bow on the scoring.
- The Duhawks outhit Edgewood College 11-to-5.
GAME TWO: EDGEWOOD COLLEGE 7, AUGUSTANA 5
- The Vikings offense hit the board first in the third inning. A double to right center broke the ice on the runs, before a throwing error by the catcher allowed an unearned run for a 2-0 lead.
- The Eagles used small ball to propel themselves to a strong fourth inning.
Grace Ott singled up the middle to put Edgewood College on the board, while
Jenna Sanchez and
Camden Shepherd singled to center and left field respectively for another run each.
Mackenzie Miller left things at 4-2 with a ground out to second tallying another run.
- Augustana struck back in the fifth. A fielder's choice to the shortstop started the rally, while a double to center field tied things up at 4-4. A sacrifice bunt to the pitcher put the Vikings back in the lead after five.
- Shepherd tied things up in the sixth as
Elizabeth Malarski stepped into the pitcher's circle to keep Augustana's offense in check. Ott continued her strong outing in the seventh, a single down the left field line scoring what ended up as the winning run, before
Kya Loffswold added an insurance run hitting a single to left center.
- A double play in the bottom of the seventh put a damper on the Vikings comeback efforts, before a fly out to center clinched the victory for Edgewood College.
TOP PERFORMERS
- Ott was a centerpiece of the Eagles' lineup in game two. She recorded a 3-for-3 line at the plate with two runs, two RBIs and a walk.
- Shepherd continued her strong start to the season. She hit 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs against Augustana.
-
Natalie Fields and
Carlie Odejewski each had a multi-hit outing versus the Vikings.
- Malarski held Augustana scoreless in 2.2 innings pitched for the victory as a pitcher.
THE OPPOSITION
- Ashlyn Hemm was the story of game one. She tossed seven innings of five-hit scoreless ball, fanning nine Edgewood College batters.
- Emily Monahan hit 3-for-4 with three runs for the Duhawks lineup.
- Naidia Rainieri made her presence felt at bat and in the pitcher's circle for the Vikings. She hit 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two doubles while pitching 3.1 innings.
- Jennica Soliz finished 3-of-3 with an RBI for Augustana.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Eagles are 2-2 all-time against the Vikings, while Loras is 13-6 against Edgewood College.
- Shepherd has recorded two hits in each of her first four games of the season.
UP NEXT
- The Eagles will play again on Sunday, March 3. They will face a twin bill of in-state foes in UW-Superior and UW-Oshkosh. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively.
