Spartans Rebound With Dominant Victory over UW-River Falls
Mar 7, 2015
UW-La Crosse BOX SCORE
UW-River Falls BOX SCORE
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Despite limiting UW-La Crosse to four hits, the University of Dubuque softball team couldn't overcome 4-1 deficit and fell to the Eagles, 4-2, on Saturday afternoon. In the nightcap, the offensive broke out for 10 runs on 10 hits in 10-1 rout of UW-River Falls in the Spartans final game of the weekend at the Rochester Dome Games hosted by Luther.
Game One
The Eagles (4-3) struck first after posting two runs in the third aided by their leadoff hitter getting hit by a pitch. A pair of singles scored both runs as the Spartans (3-3) faced a 2-0 hole.
It was UD's second loss to UW-La Crosse in consecutive days after falling to the Eagles, 7-2, on Friday night.
UD countered with Kelli Gerace's RBI single in the bottom of the third, but UW-La Crosse quickly responded in the fifth with a solo home run. UD's Carlee Grunder singled in one run in the bottom of the sixth as the Spartans squandered a bases loaded opportunity with a strikeout to end the inning.
Gerace finished with a game-high two hits to go along with one run and one RBI. Pitcher Hannah Koerperich was dominant in relief after tossing a scoreless 2.2 innings with two strikeouts.
The Spartans totaled six hits and committed two errors on the night.
Game Two
Grunder and Gianna Kuras combined for five hits and five RBIs as UD's offensive fireworks overwhelmed UW-River Falls (4-4). It was their third game of the season with 10+ runs, all wins.
Freshman reliever Megan Schleuter picked up the first win of her Spartan career after tossing 3.0 scoreless innings while striking out two and surrendering just one hit.
The Spartans (3-3) jumped on the Falcons' starter early as Grunder's two-RBI double keyed a three-run first inning. Holding onto a 4-1 lead heading into the third, UD left UW-River Falls behind thanks to four unearned runs. Kuras led the charge with a two RBI single as she ended the night 3-for-3 at the dish, with one run and two RBIs.
Grunder's two hits led to a game-high three RBIs as she scored one run as well. The Wilton, Iowa native now sits third on the team with five RBIs on the season.
Starter Amanda Williams gave up one run on one hit in two innings of work.
UD posted a 2-2 record this weekend at the Rochester Dome Games after going 1-1 last week at the same event.
The Spartans face 10 challengers as they head south to Tucson, Ariz. for their annual Spring Break Trip starting on March 16 through March 22. UD will play two different opponents each day and will take one rest day on March 19.
