The Falcon softball team beat La Crosse, 5-4, in a NCAA Regional elimination game this morning at Gelein Field in Eau Claire to stay live in post-season play.

The Falcons, now 28-14, will play the winner of the Ripon-St. Scholastica game at 6:30 p.m., today. The Falcons opened the tourney with a 4-2 loss to Ripon on Thursday.

The Falcons scored five runs on 14 hits and made no errors. The Eagles scored four runs on six hits and made four errors. The Falcons scored two in the fourth and had a big three-run sixth inning. LC scored three times in the first and one in the seventh.

La Crosse started the game strong scoring three runs on three hits in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead.

The Falcons got two hits in the first inning, but left runners at first and second. Patty Olson (Roseville, MN, Roseville) and Hayley Buchanan (Eden Prairie, MN, Eden Prairie) both singled. In the second, Alyssa Black (Mankato, MN, West) led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice by Jessie Bester (Hampton, MN, Randolph). But the Falcons could not move her further before the inning ends. Olson led off the Falcon third with a single and two outs later Ashley Goettl (North Mankato, MN, West) also singles. But the runners are stranded on first and second.

The Falcons, ranked No. 21 in this week's NFCA poll, scored twice in the fourth to draw with 3-2. Black led off with a double to left center and she advanced to third on a throwing error. Haley Selkirk (Northfield, MN, Northfield) then singled to right to score Black with the team's first run. Dana Book (Brooklyn Center, MN, Champlin Park) reached base on a throwing error and that advanced Selkirk to second. After a second out, Jamie Klein (Elk River, MN, Elk River) pinch hit and delivered a single to right center that scored Selkirk.

The Falcons loaded the bases in the fifth with two outs. Shawna Middleton (Hastings, MN, Hastings) reached on an infield hit. Black and Bester singled to load the bases. But the Falcons couldn't get the tying run home.

In the sixth the first two Falcon batters reached on errors putting runners on second and third with no outs. After an out, Buchanan lined a hit off the third baseman's glove and the hit scored pinch runner Abby Spurley (Mineral Point, Iowa-Grant) from third to tie the game. After a second out, Middleton lined a single to center to score Olson and Buchanan to put the Falcons ahead, 5-3.

LC, ranked No. 23 in this week's NFCA poll, came within 5-4 in the seventh with a lead off solo homer to left center. But the Falcons recorded the next three outs to get the win.

After a shaky start by pitcher Rose Tusa (Roseville, MN, St. Anthony Village), the junior settled down to get the win. After the first inning when she allowed three runs on three hits, she allowed one run and just three hits after that. Tusa, now 21-7, struck out four and walked one to get the complete game win.

Box Score