The UW-River Falls Falcons split on their first day of games down in Clermont, Fla. topping Benedictine University 8-3 and falling 6-0 to the University of St. Thomas.

First Game- UWRF 8, Benedictine 3

"I was very pleased with the comeback in the first game," Falcon Coach Faye Perkins said. "We had a shaky start but came back with solid defense and offense to win against the perennial tough Benedictine University." 

UWRF hit three triples including one from Abbie Morris who went 4-4 in the game while also recording the win on the mound. 

BU got on the board first in the top of the first but the Falcons answered with one of their own in the bottom of the inning when Katie Thompson singled to bring Sarah Sorensen home. After three quick outs for both teams in the second inning BU again scored in the third but had it answered but UWRF in the bottom of the third. Thompson again recorded an RBI with a sac fly bringing in Morris after her triple. 

The Falcons went on a roll in the bottom of the fourth with three big hits bringing in four runs. Amber O'Connell was walked and advanced to second off a sac bunt from Abby Veloske. Sorensen ripped a triple to bring in O'Connell, Aiyana Ledwein bunted a single and Morris brought both home on a double. Kaitlyn LePine hit a sac fly to bring in Morris to put UWRF up 6-2 after four. 

BU pulled within in three after the fifth inning but never got closer. UWRF scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. After two quick outs, Morris recorded her fourth hit of the game with a single to left center. Hannah Zurn came in to punch run and put on the wheels to score after a LePine double. Kati Stodolka came in to run for LePine and scored after Thompson recorded yet another RBI off a double. 

UWRF had 11 hits in the game. Morris had four, Thompson had two with three RBIs and the team also recorded five sacrifice hits. Morris pitched four innings allowing four hits and just one earned run. She struck out three batters and improves to 2-2 on the season. Brook Lauritzen pitched the final three innings only giving up one hit and no runs. 

"Morris and Laurtizen combined for the win giving up only one earned run. Morris and Thompson gave us the power at the plate to comeback for the win," Perkins said.

Second Game- St Thomas 6, UWRF 0

UWRF only managed two hits in the loss against a tough St. Thomas team. The Tommies scored a run in the first, the second, three in the fourth and added one more in the sixth. Ledwein had a good game for the Falcons with one of the two hits and a SportsCenter nomination worthy diving catch in the fourth inning. O'Connell had the other hit which was good for a double. 

Lauritzen took the loss on the mound in 3.1 innings of work dropping to 3-2 on the season giving up three earned runs while striking out four batters. Morris pitched 1.2 innings giving up one earned run and struck out one batter while Lauren Janssen pitched one inning giving up one earned run. Kenda Bowe took the win for the Tommies striking out ten Falcons in the two hitter. 

"We knew going into the game St. Thomas was going to be tough competition as they are ranked No. 13 in the nation. Bowe pitched a great game keeping us off balance and only giving up two hits."

The Falcons hit the field for two more games tomorrow taking on Macalester College at 3 p.m. and Utica College at 5 p.m.