WAVERLY, Iowa-- The Wartburg softball team (14-8 overall) split its doubleheader with UW-Stout (9-11) Sunday. The Knights won the opener 6-4 but their rally fell just short in the nightcap, 18-17.



In the first game, the Blue Devils took the early 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning. The Orange and Black got on the board in the third inning on an RBI single from sophomore Kailee O'Brien (Altoona) that scored classmate Liz Roby Miklus (Ankeny). Wartburg took the 3-2 lead in the fourth on a double from junior Kristie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) who later scored on Roby Miklus' suicide squeeze.

Junior Mara Forsyth (Charles City) hit her first round tripper of the day in the fifth, this one a two-run shot, and pinch runner Brenna Gray (Waterloo) scored as UW-Stout was tied up with a run down to build the lead to 6-2.

The Blue Devils used a two-run home run of their own in the sixth for their final runs.

Senior Taylor Smola (Stevens Point, Wis.) went 3-3 and classmate Kimberly Wedeking (Clarksville) earned the complete game win.

In the second game, Forsyth tied the single-game school records in runs scored (5), home runs (2) and grand slams (1). Her six RBIs was second-most in a single game. Smola added her name to the record book for grand slams (1). The Knights established a new record with their two grand slams in a single game.

Some of the highlights in that game included three five-run innings. Forsyth hit her second home run of the day in the fourth, again a two-run shot, and her grand slam occurred in the seventh which brought the Orange and Black within one at 18-17.

Smola's grand slam occurred in the sixth.

Forsyth went 2-4 with five runs scored and six RBIs.

Wartburg returns to the field Tuesday when it hosts Central at 3 p.m.