Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Winona, Minn. (uwrfsports.com) – The UW-River Falls softball team split a pair of games against St. Mary's University on the road. The Falcons scored 11 runs, and committed zero errors during the doubleheader.

THE RUNDOWN: GAME 1
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 5, St. Mary's 7
Location: Winona, Minnesota
Record: UWRF: 5-11, St. Mary's 5-6
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• The Falcons held the lead twice in the game, but a five run fifth inning by the Cardinals put the Falcons down big and the comeback fell just short.
• UW-River Falls struck first in the top of the third. Carolyn Griswold walked to begin the inning and eventually was brought home via a Ali Murray single.
• With two on and no outs, the Falcons scored one more run in the inning. Aiyana Ledwein brought home Kaia Dorn to put UWRF up 2-0.
• The Cardinals matched the Falcons two runs in the bottom of the third. With runners on the corners the Cardinals scored both runs on a single.
• UWRF took the lead back once again in the next frame. Murray was credited with her second RBI on a single she was called out on. The run scored before the double play occurred, putting the Falcons on top 3-2.
• The Cardinals batted around in the following inning, and used seven hits to score five runs, putting breathing room between them and UWRF.
• In the final innings the Falcons scored two more runs on four hits, but couldn't finish it off in the top of the seventh and went down in order.

 
THE RUNDOWN: GAME 2
Final Score: UW-River Falls: 6, St. Mary's 2
Location: Winona, Minnesota
Record: UWRF: 6-11, St. Mary's 5-7
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• For much of the game it was a pitcher's duel between Payton Speckel and Ashley Betzold. Speckel held a no hitter through three innings. It took extra innings to decide the game, with the Falcons erupting for five runs in the eighth inning to pull off the victory.  
• UW-River Falls was on the board first in the top of the sixth. It began with a Murray single. She was advanced via a Mady Bunnell sacrifice. Shannan Borchardt then stepped up and crushed a double to score Murray, putting UWRF up 1-0.
• The Cardinals put on pressure in the following frame with a pair of hits. Maddie Studnicka stepped in with two on and two out. She forced a grounder that got the Falcons out of the jam with the lead.
• Studnicka tried to finish off the Falcons in the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 lead. The Cardinals were down to their last out when Betzold brought home the runner from third, forcing extra innings.
• In the top of the eighth the Falcons only had three hits, but scored five runs to take full control.
• Krohn was placed at second to begin the inning. The bases were loaded three batters into the inning with just one out.
• Amber Galloway singled home Krohn to take the lead back for UWRF. Dorn doubled next to score two more runs and then it was Lexi Dupee who capped it off with a two-RBI single to put UWRF up 6-1.
• St. Mary's also started the inning with a runner at second. That runner eventually scored, but Carolyn Griswold finished off the Cardinals by not allowing a hit. The run came home via a groundout.

 
 

IN-DEPTH LOOK

• The extra-innings game against the Cardinals was the Falcons first game this season they have gone to extra-innings.
• Speckel added three strikeouts to her team-leading 49 strikeouts. Grisold is second on the team with 13.
• Dorn brought home three runners in the two games, putting her total to a team-high nine this season.          

THE OPPOSITION

• In the first game, Betzold was perfect at the plate going 3-3 with a walk. She crossed home twice, and also was the winning pitcher.
• In the Cardinal loss Betzold was again great at the plate. She was 3-4 with one RBI.

 
LOOKING FORWARD
The UW-River Falls softball team will begin WIAC play. They will travel to UW-Eau Claire on April 5 to take on the Blugolds in a doubleheader. The first game will begin at 4 p.m.