Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 UW-Stout 15, Bethany Lutheran 3 (5 inn) |
Bethany Lutheran 8, UW-Stout 4
MANKATO, Minn (March 26, 2022) -
Shannon Jones was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle as the senior shortstop led UW-Stout's attack in a 15-3, five inning first game win over host Bethany Lutheran College Saturday at the MSU Dome. The Blue Devil bats weren't quite as lively in the 10 p.m. second game contest where the Blue Devils lost, 8-4.
Jones drove in six runs in the opener, getting a two-run single in the third inning as the Blue Devils took a 2-1 lead. Jones capped off a five-run fourth inning by the Blue Devils, driving in two runs with a triple.
Lexy Kupczak got Stout started in the inning with an RBI double, followed by RBI singles by
Emma Muehlenbeck and
Kelly Beck.
The Blue Devils (10-10) blew the game open in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs, their biggest single inning offensive output of the season. Jones recorded a two-run double in the inning. Kupczak and Beck each drove in two runs, Kupczak on her second double of the game. Muehlenbeck plated a run on a fielder's choice and
Maggie O'Brien drew a bases loaded walk.
Jones was 3 for 4 with the six RBI. Beck and Kupczak each drove in three runs, with Beck going 2 for 4 and Kupczak 2 for 3. Muehlenbeck was 2 for 3 with two RBI. Stout finished with 12 hits.
Freshman
Anna Blanford notched her fourth win of the season, going the distance, scattering seven hits and allowing only one earned run. Blanford struck out two.
The Vikings jumped out 7-0 lead - highlighted by a four-run third inning - in the second contest before Stout got on the board when
Addison Murry hit a two-run single in the top of the fourth. The Vikings took an 8-2 lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth.
Korin Hall's double in the fifth drove in Muehlenbeck. The freshman outfielder reached on a two-out single, then stole second before being plated by Hall. Kupczak hit a solo home run in the seventh to close out the evening's scoring.
Stout did record eight hit, to finish the night with 20 hits over the two games. Hall was 3 for 4 with an RBI in the second game.
Kate Funk was 2 for 3. The Vikings recorded 10 hits off three Blue Devil pitchers.
The games with Bethany were scheduled to be played Sunday, but were moved to Saturday after a doubleheader Saturday with St. Benedict was postponed. The late evening games were played in the MSU Dome on the campus of Minnesota State, Mankato.
For the moment, Stout is scheduled to return to action when they open WIAC play, Saturday, April 9 at conference favorite UW-Oshkosh.
