RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The UW-River Falls softball team marked its 2025 home opener at Faye Perkins Stadium this Wednesday, April 16, splitting a doubleheader against UW-Stout.

The Falcons overcame an early deficit in game one to win 7-5, before falling 5-0 in game two. The doubleheader moved UWRF's record on the season to 16-12 overall and 1-3 in WIAC play.

UW-River Falls 7, UW-Stout 5
In game one, the Falcons erased a 3-0 deficit and earned the program's first WIAC and home victory of the season.

The Blue Devils scored two runs in the first and one in the second, before a wild pitch scored Michaela Hasapopoulos to put the Falcons on the board. 

The bottom of the third saw UWRF take its first lead of the game, rallying four runs. Caitlyn Kressel and Kelly Aultman each hit RBI-doubles, before Abby Pitts hit a two-RBI single to put the Falcons up 5-3.

The Blue Devils evened things up in the top of the sixth, capitalizing on two RBI-singles.

Kressel made the game-winning play at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a two-run home run that hit off the left field foul pole and scored Grace Gardner to put UWRF up 7-5.

Brooklyn VanGruensven, who received the win in relief, closed out the game in the top of the seventh to secure the victory for UWRF.

Gardner and Aultman each tallied three hits. Kressel led the way with three RBIs and two runs off two hits. Pitts also totaled two RBIs. 

UW-Stout 5, UW-River Falls 0
After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Devils scored two runs in the top of the second and one in the top of the third to build an early 3-0 lead.

Lindsey Duggan came into pitch in relief, throwing a scoreless fourth and fifth innings in which four out of the six outs were strikeouts. Duggan finished with 2.2 innings pitched, striking out four and allowing just one hit and one unearned run.

The Blue Devils added two additional runs across the final two innings of the game, with both coming off errors.

The Falcons were limited to five hits in the game, as UW-Stout pitcher Anna Blanford threw a complete-game shutout.

Emily Crowe led UWRF with a 2-2 performance at the plate. In the pitcher's circle, Brooklyn VanGruensven pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three earned runs off six hits, striking out one batter.

Up next, the Falcons are scheduled to play a doubleheader against Bethel tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Faye Perkins Stadium.