Blue Devils, Eagles, flip-flop scores in softball split

UW-La Crosse 2, UW-Stout 1 | UW-Stout 2, UW-La Crosse 1

LA CROSSE (April 20, 2019) - UW-Stout was on both ends of 2-1 decisions Saturday as the Blue Devils split a conference doubleheader at UW-La Crosse, losing the first game 2-1, but coming back for a 2-1 win in the nightcap.

After a heartbreaking first game, bottom of the seventh loss, the Blue Devils (15-14, 4-4 WIAC) pulled it back together and got all of the runs they would need in the top of the first inning. 

Mary Iliopoulos opened the game by beating out an infield single, moved to second on Kyncaide Diedrich's groundout, then blazed home on Megan Kelly's rightfield double.  Alicia Meyer traded spots with Kelly when she hit her team-leading 11th double to score Kelly and Stout led 2-0.

Melea Bruns would hold the Eagles (17-13, 5-3 WIAC) in check, allowing only three hits throughout the game, never more than one hit in an inning. The Eagles got their only run of the game in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Emily Knight. Bruns put the Eagles down in order in the sixth and seventh innings. Bruns had one strikeout and gave up one walk. 

Stout was limited to three hits by the Eagles' Maddie Muelken, all in the first inning. 

Similar to the second game, the Blue Devils struck out of the gate in the opener. Iliopoulos opened the game with a lead-off single, then came home on Diedrich's triple, Diedrich's first of two triples for the game. 

The Blue Devils collected hits in the third (Diedrich's triple), the fifth (a lead-off single by pitcher Sommer Kunstmann0 and the sixth (a single by Jessica Daley), but could not get a runner past first base..

The Eagles tied the score in the bottom of the sixth on Mia Schmidtke's RBI double, then won the game in the seventh inning on an error on a double steal.

Diedrich was 2-for-3 for Stout, while Nicole Trussoni was 2-for-2 for the Eagles. Kunstmann went the distance allowing four hits and two runs, one earned, striking out two and walking two to suffer the loss. Caitlyn Hughes went the full seven innings for La Crosse, allowing five runs and a walk, but struck out 10.

The Blue Devils have a busy week ahead, with three doubleheaders scheduled for Alumni Field and one road date. Stout is scheduled to host UW-Eau Claire, Wednesday, April 24 at 4 p.m., travel to UW-River Falls, Thursday, April 25, host UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, April 27 and close out the home portion of the season Sunday, April 28 by hosting St. Olaf College.