CLERMONT, Fla . – Softball opened its second day of play in The Spring Games with a 13-5 win over RPI in six innings before falling to Alma 11-10 after the Knights scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
 
The Knights are now 4-4 overall and will be back in action next on Thursday, Mar. 5 with games against New England College and Misericordia College.
 
Game Summary

• vs RPI
  • First Inning
    • Carley Bredar reached base after an error and then stole second base before brought home by a Reagan Hassel home run to left center field that gave Wartburg an early 2-0 lead
    • Jillian Panther made her first career start today inside the circle and picked up three-straight outs following an opening walk
  • Second Inning
    • The Knights added two more runs in the top of the second following singles from Liz Kruckenberg and Bredar, which led to a two-RBI single from Hassel
    • RPI got one run back in the bottom of the second after a double brought home one runner to make the score 4-1
      • Katelyn Klever took over inside the circle to get the final out of the second
  • Third Inning
    • RPI put together a four-run bottom of the third after two errors and three hits allowed by the Knights defense before Wartburg got two-straight outs to stop the damage
      • RPI led 5-4 after three innings of play
  • Fifth Inning
    • After a hitless top of the fourth, Wartburg's offense came back alive in the fifth after a double to left field from Kruckenberg brought home Sophie Stanic, followed by a double from Alexis Larson that scored both Maddie Buskohl and Kruckenberg to put Wartburg back in front 7-5
  • Sixth Inning
    • Both Bredar, Hassel and Ally Happ reached base to load the bases up, which led to back-to-back fielders choice RBI from Bella Mulder and Jenna Wiebenga that brought the score to 9-5
    • Buskohl reached on an error to bring another run in and then back-to-back hits from Larson and Stephanie Kiefer brought in a combined three runs to push the Wartburg lead to 13-5
    • In the bottom half, the Knights stranded one runner in the sixth as Klever finished the game with a strikeout to closeout a 13-5 win
• vs Alma
  • First Inning
    • Alma was able to jump on the Knights defense early with a five-run opening inning after four hits
    • The Knights got two runs back in the bottom half when Hassel walked and then stole both second and third base before scoring on a lineout to left field from Mulder followed by Happ walking and stealing second base before scoring on a defensive error
  • Second Inning
    • Alma added two more runs in the second inning with a two-run home run to make the score 7-2
  • Third Inning
    • The Knights defense put Alma away three up and three down in the top of the third inning
    • In the bottom half of the third, Hassel stepped up to the plate with one out and delivered a triple to right field before she was brought home by a Mulder single to cut the deficit to 7-3
  • Sixth Inning
    • Alma scored three more runs in the top of the sixth following two hits and two errors to push the lead to 10-3
    • Wartburg got two runs back in the bottom half when Wiebenga doubled to left field and then Larson cleared the bases with a home run to left center field to make the score 10-5
  • Seventh Inning
    • The Scots added another run in the top of the seventh with an RBI single
    • Wartburg would not go away without a fight, as the Knights loaded the bases up after Bredar, Happ and Mulder all reached base
    • With two outs, Wiebenga walked to bring in one run and then Kiefer doubled to left center field to score two more runs and make the score 11-8
    • Larson kept the rally going with a single up the middle to bring two more runs across and bring the Knights within one run (11-10)
    • The Knights were able to put runners on first and second before Alma got out of the inning to finish the game 11-10

 
Top Performers

• vs RPI
  • Reagan Hassel
    • 3/5 at the plate
    • Four RBI
    • Two runs scored
    • Home run
    • Stolen base
  • Alexis Larson
    • 2/4 at the plate
    • Three RBI
    • Double
  • Liz Kruckenberg
    • 2/4 at the plate
    • Two runs scored
    • RBI
    • Double
  • Stephanie Kiefer
    • 1/2 at the plate
    • Two RBI
• vs Alma
  • Alexis Larson
    • 2/4 at the plate
    • Four RBI
    • Home run
  • Bella Mulder
    • 2/3 at the plate
    • Two RBI
    • One run scored
  • Jenna Wiebenga
    • 1/3
    • Two RBI
    • Two runs scored
    • Double
  • Stephanie Kiefer
    • 1/3 at the plate
    • Two RBI
    • Double

 
Notes/Streaks

• Wartburg is now 4-0 against RPI and 3-5 against Alma all time
• Hassel leads the Knights in hits this season with 11
  • On a seven-game hitting streak
  • Fourth multi-RBI game of the season in game one
• Both Hassel and Mulder lead the team with 10 RBI
  • Wiebenga (eight), Kiefer (seven), Larson (seven) and Happ (five) all have recorded five or more RBI this season
• Third career home run for Larson
  • First this season
• Second career home run for Hassel
  • First of the season
• Mulder has reached base in every game this season
• First career start in the circle for Panther
• Klever is now 2-2 in pitching decisions this season

 
Next Time Out
The Knights will be off tomorrow before returning for two games on Thursday, Mar. 5 at the Space Coast Games against New England College and Misericordia College.