After last week's season opening double header split against Bethany Lutheran, the UW-River Falls softball team took on the Vikings again and like last week, each team left with a win.
Game 1
The first game got off to a rough start for the Falcons. After a few walks and a couple of wild pitches, the Vikings were able to get two runs across the plate in the first inning, forcing the Falcons to play catch up from the very start. The next two innings saw far less self-inflicted wounds by UW-RF, but Bethany Lutheran starting putting the bat to ball, scoring one run in the second inning and four in the third to go up 8-0. The Falcons could never get a rally going, seeing a lot balls they put in play staying in the infield and ultimately dropping the contest 8-0 in five innings.
Game 2
If anyone doesn't think a break between games can help a team hit the reset button, game two of the Falcons and Vikings matchup could be used as evidence to change their mind.
The Vikings got a run in the first inning off of sophomore pitcher Julianna Reynolds, but that was nearly all they would muster up against her on the day. In the second inning, Sammie Harms got thing moving for the Falcons by smacking a double into left field and picking up an RBI by bring Allison Kondzela home for a score. Next to the plate was Johanna Breyen and she smoked a double herself, this one bringing in Harms and giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead, a lead they would never relinquish.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, the Falcons found themselves getting on a hot streak in the fifth. After a Lindsey Strom single to lead off the inning, the Falcons racked up six hits and pushed across four runs, their lead swelling to 6-1. The Vikings tacked on a run in the sixth, but Mavis Sachs got it right back with an RBI of her own to put the final winning tally at 7-2.
Reynolds pitched a complete game and struck out nine, bringing her season strikeout total to an incredible 21 in just two appearances.
The Falcons increase their record to 2-2 on the season. Their next game will be on the road next Saturday March 13th as the travel to St. Paul to face Northwestern.
