WAVERLY, Iowa— Splitting their home opener, the No. 22 Wartburg College Knights went 1-1 in an American Rivers Conference opener against the University of Dubuque Spartans.
The Knights won the first game in five innings, 14-5. The Knights had a late comeback in game two, falling 9-8 to Dubuque.
The Knights softball team wore special purple jerseys in celebration of Women's History Month.
Game One Recap
Dubuque jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first game of the series, recording four hits.
The Knights offense exploded in the bottom of the second. With bases loaded,
Jenna Levine hit a 2 RBI single to left field.
Sydney Fellows singled as
Tarah Wehde tied the game up at three. Levine took the lead for the Knights as
Sydney Illg walked. Hitting a double at the plate,
Olivia Brecht brought home
Kaylie Springer and Fellows. After
Lauren Frerichs was hit by the pitch,
Ella Link homered for the Knights.
The Knights retired the next three batters for the Spartans.
The Knights hit back-to-back doubles in the third inning, extending the lead to nine at 12-3. Wehde homered in the inning, a 2 RBI homer.
The Spartans recorded a pair of home runs in the fourth inning for the final runs of the first game. The Knights' Illg singled in the bottom of the fourth as the Knights won 14-5 in game one.
Game Two Recap
The Spartans took a 4-0 lead in the first two innings off six hits in the second game.
A sacrifice fly by Springer brought home
Hannah Happ for the first run of the game for the Orange & Black.
The Spartans hit a home run to lead off in the third inning before adding a second run later in the inning.
Link hit an RBI single in the bottom of the third, as Brecht rounded the bases for the Knights. Wehde hit her second home run of the game, trimming the Spartans lead to two at 6-4.
The Knights allowed only one hit over two innings, including retiring all three batters in the fifth for Dubuque. The Spartans hit three home runs in the sixth inning, taking a 9-4 lead over the Knights.
Illg answered with a home run in the sixth for the Knights, as the Knights scored one run off two hits in the inning. Brecht hit a home run in the seventh, bring home Fellows and
Riley Feeley for the Knights. The Knights would fall short in their comeback, as the Spartans won 9-8 to split the series.
Moving in the Record Book
With her 16 runs scored this season, Illg has moved to No. 4 in the record book for career runs. Illg is 24 runs away from tying the record and needs 25 runs to pass Ashley Rogers (143 runs).
Illg, who has recorded two triples this season, is three away from cracking the Top-10 in the career record. Illg leads the record book for most hit-by-pitch has added to her record (33) as Frerichs is tied for fifth with eleven HBP. Illg is one away from tying for the second spot on the Top-10 list for career-stolen base (at 76 currently).
National Rankings
After receiving votes early this season, the Knights are in the Top-25 poll of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Knights enter the poll at No. 22.
Schedule Adjustment
The Knights will compete against St. Catherine's on April 27 at 3:30 p.m. in St. Paul. The game was originally slated for March 27th.
Next Time in Action
The Knights hit the road for American Rivers Conference action, traveling to Nebraska Wesleyan on April 2. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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