V-Hawks Pick Up First Conference Win

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The V-Hawks took to their home field this weekend to compete against the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene. Not only was it the first V-Hawk game of the year at the Outdoor Athletics Complex, but the V-Hawks also picked up their first conference win of the season. The V-Hawks are now 4-17 overall this season and 1-2 in CCAC play. 

GAME ONE (VU 7, ONU 10)

In the first game of the series, the V-Hawks took the early lead, scoring five runs in the bottom of the second. Makayla Nortman ran in Marissa Carter-Olson and Grace Elton. Ava Anderson ran in Natalie Martin, and Alyssa Roos brought in Makayla Nortman and Ava Anderson. Olivet responded, bringing in three runs in the third inning. In the fifth, the V-Hawks solidified their lead when Makayla Nortman ran in Alexis Watson. The Tigers responded with a huge sixth inning in which they scored seven runs. The V-Hawks attempted to fight back with Elie Klar running in Makayla Nortman in the seventh, but the V-Hawks eventually fell 10-7 in game one. 

Makayla Nortman led the way from the plate with two hits and three RBIs on four at-bat appearances. Other hits came from Ava Anderson, Alyssa Roos, and Elie Klar. Alexis Watson pitched the majority of the game, allowing seven runs and four hits. Mia Weithaus pitched two innings, allowing just one hit and one run, while Sydnie Newell closed the game, allowing two runs and two hits. 

GAME TWO (VU 7, ONU 11)

The second game of the series was a scoring frenzy. In the first inning, Olivet Nazarene took the 1-0 lead. They scored two more in the top of the second to go up 3-0. The V-Hawks responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Two more from the Tigers in the third triggered a V-Hawk home run from Marissa Carter-Olson. She ran in Alexis Watson for a two-run homer, bringing the score to 5-4 in favor of the Tigers. Olivet scored four runs in the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, Ava Anderson tee'd off for another V-Hawk home run, running in Makayla Nortman as well to cut the deficit to three. Marissa Carter-Olson ran in Alexis watson to score again in the fifth inning, but the Tigers ran away with the 11-7 win after some scoring in the seventh. 

The V-Hawks were led from the plate by Alexis Watson. Watson had four hits on four at-bat appearances. Marissa Carter-Olson and Ava Anderson each added three RBIs for the V-Hawks as well. Other hits came from Alyssa Roos, Elie Klar, Rylee Koeller, and Makayla Nortman. From the mound, Makenzie Woodhouse started, allowing nine hits and nine runs in her three innings. Sydnie Newell relieved Woodhouse, allowing five hits and two runs. 

GAME THREE (VU 3, ONU 2)

The V-Hawks picked up a win in their final game of the series. Neither team scored for the first four innings of the game. In the top of the fifth, the Tigers scored a run to go up 1-0. The V-Hawks immediately responded in the bottom of the fifth. Natalie Martin singled to run in Aydenn Sutton to tie up the game. Alyssa Roos ran in Natalie Martin to take the 2-1 lead, and the final run for the V-Hawks came on an Elie Klar RBI to run in Makayla Nortman. The Tigers attempted to fight back, running in one more in the seventh inning, but the V-Hawks held strong and remained victorious with a 3-2 win. 

Marissa Carter-Olson and Ava Anderson led the V-Hawks from the plate, each with two hits. Other hits came from Alyssa Roos, Elie Klar, Natalie Martin, and Makayla Nortman. Alexis Watson put on a pitching clinic in the game. She pitched all seven innings, allowing just two runs. Watson faced 30 batters, throwing 115 pitches. Of her 115 pitches, Watson was able to make 80 of them strikes. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will travel to St. Ambrose on Tuesday and Wednesday for their next CCAC series before heading to Trinity Christian this weekend.