MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University softball team lost their opening doubleheader to host Wisconsin Lutheran 9-1 (six innings) in game one, and 8-0 (five innings) in game two. The win gives the Warriors a record of 8-4 on the season, and makes the Blue Angels 0-2.
In game one, the Blue Angels got their first feel of an outdoor field and showed flashes of solid defense and timely offense. After giving up one hit in the first inning while Nikki Festge (Sr./Menomonee Falls, Wis.) was in the circle, the Blue Angels gave up three hits and an error in the second along with two runs in the second.
MMU gave up two more in the bottom of the third, then got their offense started in the top of the fourth. To lead off the inning, Jess Runge (Jr./Freedom, Wis.) ran out an infield shot to the shortstop. With two outs, Taylor Yordt (Fr./Omaha, Neb.) placed single in short right center. As the fielder charged and hit the cutoff, Runge made it all the way around to home plate giving MMU their first run of the season.
The Warriors added four unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth after three MMU fielding errors. Following another unearned run in bottom of the sixth, host Wisconsin Lutheran walked away with a 9-1 victory.
Festge was responsible for only three of the runs in 5.1 innings pitched with two strikeouts and three walks. Ashley Contreras (So./College Station, Texas) added the third hit of the game with a double to right center.
Game two saw the Warriors pick up their offense in a hurry. Scoring two runs in each of their first two innings and four runs combined in the following two innings WLC got up 8-0 early. The Blue Angels came up short in the fifth to end the doubleheader.
Ashley Contreras ended the second game hitting 1-of-2 from the plate and pitched 4.0 innings giving up eight runs, seven earned runs, five strike outs, and four walks.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Blue Angels as they now will look to face Concordia Wisconsin (6-8) at Whitefish Bay High School Wed. Mar. 23. Game one will begin at 3:00 pm and game two at 5:00 pm. With the impending weather, pay attention to mtmaryathletics.com or on twitter @MtMaryAthletics.
