UW-Stout 12, Tufts University 10 (8 inn) |
UW-Stout 11, Minn-Morris 3 (5 inn)
CLERMONT, Fla (March 24, 2019) – UW-Stout got their bats moving in a big way, earning two wins at the PFX Athletics Spring Games Sunday. The Blue Devil came from behind to defeat Tufts University, 12-10, in eight innings to open the day, then needed only five innings to defeat Minnesota-Morris, 11-3.
Tufts (13-2), one of the premier softball programs that won Division III titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015, jumped all over Stout (6-3) in the opening five innings to take a 7-0 lead before the Blue devils tallied three runs in the sixth and five runs in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
Mary Iliopoulos drove in two runs in the seventh inning to help forge the tied score, then drove in two runs in the eighth inning.
Alicia Meyer drove in another run and Iliopoulos scored the final run of the inning to take a four run lead. Tufts scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but
Melea Bruns forced the final two flyouts of the game.
Iliopoulos had four RBI in the game while going 2 of 4.
Kyncaide Diedrich was 2 of 5 and
Alicia Meyer was 2 of 4 with three RBI as Stout notched 10 hits.
Stout built up a 6-0 lead over Morris (9-9) through four innings, then allowed the Cougars back into the game with three runs in the fifth. But the Blue Devils shut the door when winning pitcher
Kim Labahn hit a home run to lead off the fifth and Diedrich hit a grand slam, slamming the first pitch, to end the game by the 8-run rule.
Diedrich was 4 of 4 with five RBI. Labahn was 2 of 3 with three RBI and Iliopoulos was 4 for 4 as Stout pounded out 16 hits.
For the day, Diedrich was 6-of-9 with six RBI and Iliopoulos was 6-of-8 with four RBI.
"It was a great team effort today," said Blue Devil head coach
Becky Iaccino. "We are learning a champion mindset and fight. We found heart today and are learning how to control the moments."
Stout will play St. Catherine and Luther College, Monday, March 25.
