RIVER FALLS, Wis. (uwrfsports.com)— The UW-River Falls Softball (8-16-1, 1-4-1 WIAC) opened up home play on the newly constructed Falcon Center softball field with a win in game one of a doubleheader against UW-Eau Claire (11-10-1, 2-1-1 WIAC) by a score of 7-1 and tied the Blugolds in game two by a score of 3-3.
 
Game One: UW-River Falls 7 UW-Eau Claire 1
 
In game number one, the Falcons started off the scoring in the bottom of the first when Abby Veloske scored and was then brought in by Michelle LaCasse's single.
 
Shannon Borchardt got the Falcons back on the board in the bottom of the second when she hit a long home run to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Falcons.
 
The bottom of the fourth inning resulted in five runs on four hits. The first hit came when Sarah Sorensen singled to right field, Sorensen then stole second base. Ali Murray walked and then Hannah Zurn walked which allowed Sorensen to advance to third base. Abby Veloske singled and drove in Sorensen. Ledwein singled to center field scoring both Zurn and Murray. Ledwein stole second and scored on Mady Bunnell's single, which also scored Veloske in the process. After all the scoring was done and the dust had settled on the fourth inning, the Falcons were up 7-0.
 
The Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire put their one and only run on the board in the top of the sixth inning when Rachel Heffel scored on a passed ball making the score 7-1 UW- River Falls.
 
Picking up the win for the Falcons was Michelle LaCasse who pitched all seven innings and gave up one unearned run on just three hits. LaCasse also struck out five Blugolds in her seven innings of work.
 
Taking the loss for the Blugolds was Zana Lorbetske who pitched three and a thirds innings. She gave up five runs on five hits.

Game Two: UW-River Falls 3 UW-Eau Claire 3
 
In the second game of the afternoon Michelle LaCasse took the mound again for the Falcons and would pitch nine innings. LaCasse allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out three Blugolds.
 
The Blugolds split the nine between two pitchers; Zana Lorbetske who gave up one run on six hits in five innings and Lauren Blasczyk allowed two runs on four hits in four innings.
 
UW-Eau Claire started the scoring for the game when they scored two runs in the top of the second when Brooke Varia scored on an error by the Falcons catcher and then again when Sam Noetzelm tagged up and scored on Morgan Leche's sacrifice fly to right field.
 
UW-River Falls would tie things up on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Ali Murray scored on Abby Veloske's single to center field and then again when Aiyana Ledwein reached on a fielder's choice which allowed Hannah Zurn to come around and score.
 
The Falcons took the lead for a brief moment in the bottom of the sixth when Shannon Borchardt singled to left field and brought in Ali Krohn. This run made the score 3-2 Falcons.
 
The Blugolds would get back on the board in the top of the seventh when Leah Wolff singled and scored Darby Raffel.
 
The Falcons had a chance to take the game in the bottom of the ninth when Abby Veloske started a rally when she singled to left field. Aiyana Ledwein then singled to left field to keep the rally going. The two Falcon runners would advance on a wild pitch by the pitcher and Michelle LaCasse would load the bases by earning a walk. With only one out the Falcons brought Mady Bunnell to the plate and she struck out looking after getting the count in her favor at three balls and only one strike. Katie Thompson would come up to the plate representing the Falcons last chance to take the game before the darkness got in the way, but she struck out looking and thus the game was ended on a tie due to darkness in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Falcons are home again on Saturday when they take on Finlandia in a doubleheader with first pitch of game one slated for 1:00 P.M.