V-Hawks Claim Series Victory over St. Francis

JOLIET, Ill. -- The V-Hawks traveled east to Joliet this weekend to face off against the Fighting Saints of St. Francis. Through three games of competition, the V-Hawks came out with two victories over the Fighting Saints, improving to 12-23 overall and 7-8 in the CCAC. The Fighting Saints fall to 29-10 overall and 15-3 in the CCAC. 

GAME ONE (VU 5, SFU 4)

In the first game of the series, the Saints struck first to take the 1-0 lead in the first inning. In the third inning, Grace Elton homered to score the first run for the V-Hawks. Makella Jacobs stepped up to the plate in the third inning as well, cranking a three-run homer to center field to give the V-Hawks a 4-1 edge. In the fifth inning, the V-Hawks scored again as Elie Klar ran in Ava Anderson to go up 5-1. St. Francis attempted to fight back in the seventh inning, but Alexis Watson at the mound was able to hold off the Fighting Saints, pitching a strikeout to end the game. 

From the plate, the V-Hawks were led by Elie Klar. Klar had two hits and one RBI on three appearances at the plate. Other hits on the day came from Alyssa Roos, Makella Jacobs, Natalie Martin, and Grace Elton. In the circle, Alexis Watson had a day. Watson pitched a full game, allowing only four runs and eight hits. She faced 35 batters, and during that time she threw 136 pitches resulting in 80 strikes thrown. 

GAME TWO (VU 2, SFU 10)

In the second game of the series, the V-Hawks held off the Saints early. For the first two innings, neither team scored, and the game remained at 0-0. In the bottom of the third, St. Francis was able to put together eight runs to take the 8-0 lead over the V-Hawks. The V-Hawks were able to hold off St. Francis in the fourth inning, and in the fifth inning, the V-Hawks scored their only runs of the game on an Alexis Watson homer that ran in Aydenn Sutton as well. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the V-Hawks allowed two more runs to fall 10-2 in five innings. 

At the plate, Alexis Watson led for the V-Hawks with two RBIs and one hit in her two at bat appearances. The only other hit of the game came from Natalie Martin. Makenzie Woodhouse started pitching, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing 7 runs and six hits. She threw 54 pitches resulting in 30 strikes. Mia Weithaus relieved Woodhouse to pitch for 1.2 innings. She allowed three runs and four hits in her innings. She threw 41 pitches for 28 strikes. 

GAME THREE (VU 10, SFU 6)

The V-Hawks returned on the second day for another win. St. Francis struck first, scoring three runs in the first inning on a home run. The V-Hawks responded in stunning fashion with Elie Klar picking up a grand slam in the third inning to take the 4-3 lead over the Saints. The Saints scored once again in the third to tie it at 4-4, but the V-Hawks responded with five runs in the fifth inning. Alexis Watson ran in Natalie Martin and Marissa Carter-Olson, Grace Elton brought in Alexis Watson, and Ava Anderson doubled to run in Makayla Nortman and Grace Elton. In the sixth, the Saints attempted to fight back, but the V-Hawks scored once again in the seventh on a Makayla Nortman single that ran in Grace Elton and Natalie Martin. The V-Hawks went on to take the 10-6 victory. 

At the plate, the V-Hawks were led by Alexis Watson and Ava Anderson. Each had two hits and two RBIs in four plate appearances. Other hits on the day came from Elie Klar, Makella Jacobs, Natalie Martin, Grace Elton, and Makayla Nortman. Alexis Watson pitched another full game for the V-Hawks, allowing six runs and 10 hits. She faced 34 batters, throwing 118 pitches with 61 of them being strikes. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will compete against Saint Xavier on Tuesday and Wednesday here in La Crosse.