V-Hawks Collect Pair of Conference Wins on the Road

WHITING, Ind. -- The V-Hawk softball team traveled to Indiana this week to compete against the Calumet Crimson Wave in a three-game series. Through the series, the V-Hawks secured two wins over the Crimson Wave. With the wins, the V-Hawks are now 10-22 overall this season and 5-7 in conference competitions. The Crimson Wave drop to 6-21 overall and 4-10 in conference. 

GAME ONE (VU 9, Calumet 0)

In the first game of the series, the V-Hawks came out swinging. In the first inning of the competition, Elie Klar doubled to run in Ava Anderson for their first run of the series. The V-Hawks held off the Crimson Wave, and in the third inning, they struck again. Alexis Watson ran in Makella Jacobs and Rylee Koeller, while Natalie Martin ran in Alexis Watson. With a 4-0 lead, the V-Hawks weren't done yet. In the fourth inning, the V-Hawks scored five more runs. Marissa Carter-Olson singled to run in Ava Anderson. Alexis Watson brought in Rylee Koeller, and Natalie Martin singled to bring in Marissa Carter-Olson. Alexis Watson advanced home on an error, and the final run of the day came on an Alyssa Roos single to run in Natalie Martin. 

From the plate, Alexis Watson led for the V-Hawks. Watson had three hits and three RBIs in her three appearances. Natalie Martin also contributed three hits alongside two RBIs in her three appearances. Other hits on the game came from Ava Anderson, Elie Klar, Rylee Koeller, Marissa Carter-Olson, and Alyssa Roos. In the circle, Alexis Watson pitched a full game shutout, allowing zero runs through five innings. She only allowed five hits throughout the game, facing 22 batters in total. She threw 92 pitches for a total of 63 strikes. 

GAME TWO (VU 9, Calumet 14)

In their second competition of the series, the V-Hawks fell to the Crimson Wave, despite scoring nine runs. The V-Hawks struck first, putting up four runs in the first inning. Elie Klar brought in Ava Anderson. A Natalie Martin double brought in Elie Klar. Alexis Watson grounded out, but ran in Natalie Martin, and the final run of the inning came on a Rylee Koeller single that ran in Marissa Carter-Olson. The Crimson Wave responded quickly, scoring eight runs in the second inning. The V-Hawks picked up one run in the third when Rylee Koeller singled to run in Marissa Carter-Olson. Calumet scored once again to take the 9-5 lead in the fourth inning. At the top of the fifth, the V-Hawks scored two more runs. Alyssa Roos brought in Rylee Koeller and Elie Klar ran in Grace Elton. Calumet scored five more runs in the sixth inning. In a last-chance effort, Elie Klar ran in Ava Anderson in the seventh inning, but the V-Hawks eventually fell 14-9. 

From the plate, Elie Klar led for the V-Hawks, putting up four hits and four RBIs in her four appearances. Ava Anderson also contributed four hits, while Rylee Koeller added three. Other hits on the game came from Alyssa Roos, Natalie Martin, Marissa Carter-Olson, and Grace Elton. From the mound, Makenzie Woodhouse started off for the V-Hawks, pitching two innings and allowing nine runs and six hits. She faced 18 batters and three 66 pitches with 29 being strikes. Mia Weithaus relieved Woodhouse, pitching four innings and allowing five runs and five hits. Weithaus faced 20 batters, throwing 78 pitches for 51 strikes. 

GAME THREE (VU 6, Calumet 4)

In the final game of the series, the V-Hawks edged out the Crimson Wave for victory. The Crimson Wave struck first, scoring one run in the first inning. In the third inning, Ava Anderson started some momentum for the V-Hawks with a single-run homer. Marissa Carter-Olson brought in Alyssa Roos for another run in the third. Calumet responded, tying the game in the bottom of the third. Alyssa Roos answered again, singling to center field to run in Grace Elton and take the 3-2 lead. Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but Calumet picked up two runs in the sixth to take the lead. In the top of the seventh inning, the V-Hawks were able to complete the comeback victory. Natalie Martin ran in Aydenn Sutton to tie the game. Rylee Koeller singled to run in Alexis Watson, and the final run of the game came with a Grace Elton RBI to bring in Natalie Martin. 

Rylee Koeller led from the plate for the V-Hawks with four hits and one RBI through her four appearances. Other hits on the day came from Ava Anderson, Alyssa Roos, Makella Jacobs, Marissa Carter-Olson, Alexis Watson, Natalie Martin, and Grace Elton. From the mound, Alexis Watson pitched another full game. She allowed four runs and 11 hits in her seven innings. Throughout the game, Watson faced 33 batters and threw 126 pitches, 75 of which were strikes. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will hit the road again this weekend. They will be competing against St. Francis on Friday and Saturday in Joliet, Illinois. On Friday, the teams will play a single game at 2PM and on Saturday, the teams will compete in a double-header beginning at 12PM. The V-Hawks will return to their home field next week.