V-Hawks pick up two wins in conference opener

By Maddie Weiss, Viterbo Graduate Assistant

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The V-Hawks (2-12) opened up North Star play today at home today with two wins over Presentation (1-13) in dominating fashion. Viterbo got off to a hot start, taking an early lead in game one, and stayed ahead the entire game to win 12-4 in six innings. The hot bats continued for the V-Hawks in the second game, closing the day on a walk-off hit by Caitlin Brown (SR/Lake in the Hills, Ill.) in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 7-6 win.

Game 1 – Viterbo 12, Presentation 4 (6 innings)

· Leadoff batter Autumn Olson (JR/Chippewa Falls, Wis.) singled to start the bottom of the first. She advanced to second on a Channing Manske (JR/Black River Falls, Wis.) single, then a double steal put both runners in scoring position with Olson scoring on a Saints error.

· The Saints scored in the fourth inning by loading the bases with two outs then a Victoria Vau single brought a runner home. Janelle Ulazsek was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout for the third out.

· A busy fourth inning continued for the V-Hawks with home runs by Morgan James (SO/Mineral Point, Wis.) and Taylor Pacana (JR/Huntley, Ill.). It was Morgan James' first collegiate homer and the second for Taylor Pacana.

· Both teams scored three runs in the fifth inning, with the V-Hawks having multiple players with doubles along with an Autumn Olson triple.

· Viterbo sealed the game with a five-run sixth inning, which included five singles and two Presentation errors.

VU Leaders: Karissa Walsh (SO/Monee, Ill.) scored three times while Morgan James had four RBI. Autumn Olson, Channing Manske, and Morgan James each had three hits.

Game 2 – Viterbo 7, Presentation 6 (8 innings)

· Viterbo kept the momentum going with a two-run first inning in the nightcap.

· The Saints scored twice in the top of the third to tie the game at 2-2.

· The V-Hawks answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 lead.

· Presentation was able to score one run in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game at 4-4 and force the game into extra innings. The Saints then scored twice in the top of the eighth.

· Karissa Walsh started the eighth inning for the V-Hawks with a walk. Morgan James had an infield single and Janelle Ulazsek followed with an RBI single. Morgan James then scored on a passed ball to tie the game before Caitlin Brown delivered a two-out walk-off hit to score Janelle Ulazsek with the game-winning run.

VU Leaders: Janelle Ulazsek had three hits with Channing Manske scoring twice.

A busy week for the V-Hawks continues tomorrow, concluding the series against the Saints tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 2:00 PM at the Viterbo Outdoor Athletics Complex. The V-Hawks will host #21 Saint Xavier (Ill.) on Tuesday for a doubleheader starting at noon, before returning to NSAA play on Friday for a weekend series against Bellevue.