Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

SOMERS, Wis. (Apr. 7, 2013)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside softball squad fell victim to the longball in extra innings in both ends of a Great Lakes Valley Conference East Division doubleheader against McKendree University on Sunday at the Case Softball Complex. The Rangers fell 4-2 in eight innings in the opener while in the nightcap, falling 8-7 in nine innings.

McKendree (8-19, 6-13 GLVC) struck first in the opener plating a run in the first inning. UW-Parkside (6-21, 3-12 GLVC) grabbed the lead in the third inning, pushing across a pair of runs. Kira Cooper led off the inning with a single, later scoring on a Katie Neubauer double. Neubauer came around for the inning's second score courtesy of a Colleen Cummings sacrifice fly.

The Bearcats leveled the score at 2-2 in the sixth with Morgan Shulte base hit bringing in a run. Neither team could muster a run in the seventh, forcing an extra frame.

McKendree's Schulte was the hero in the extra frame, belting a two-run home run for what turned out to be the game winner, giving the visitors the 4-2 victory.

Neubauer led the Rangers at the plate, finishing two-for-three with an RBI.

Kelynn Sporer was hit with the loss, yiedling four runs and striking out five in 7 1/3 innings of work. McK's Kelsie Stoszkus earned the complete game victory, logging all eight innings and striking out three.

Much like the first game, McKendree staked an early lead, pushing across single runs in the first, third and fourth innings.

UW-Parkside broke up the shutout in the fifth with an Ashley Nowdomski single scoring Jessica Loy as the shortstop began the inning with a single down the right field line.

McKendree tallied two more runs in the sixth and held a 5-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Rangers capitalized on a slew of Bearcat fielding miscues in the seventh, pushing across four runs to tie the game and force extra innings. Jessica Loy opened the inning by drawing a walk before three straight fielding errors allowed the Rangers' to plate a pair of runs. Alexis Simone pounded a double down the left field line to clear the bases and tie the contest at 5-5. Simone was relieved by pinch runner Brittany Rynish who advanced to third on a wild pitch but the Rangers were unable to bring her in, with a pair of strikeouts and a pop up ending the inning.

Neither team was able to manufacture a run in the eighth while McKendree piled on three runs in the top of the ninth. Morgan Shulte led off the inning with a solo home run before Marla Schulte plated a run and a Ranger error allowed the inning's third score.

UW-Parkside attempted a rally in the bottom of the ninth . Nowdomski drew a walk to open the inning, advancing to third on a Sporer one-out single. Neubauer belted a single to center field to score both Nowdomski and Sporer while advancing to second on the throw home. Neubauer, the potential game tying run, advanced to third with two outs but the Bearcats induced a pop out to end the contest and secure the sweep.

Nowdomski and Simone each finished two-for-four at the plate with a pair of RBIs. Jessica Loy scored a pair of runs and finished one-for-two at the dish.

Katie Neubauer suffered the loss, pitching five innings in relief of Kristin Kleinmeyer and allowing three earned runs. McKendree's Susan Goetze was credited with the win, tossing the final three innings and striking out two.

The Rangers return to the diamond on Tuesday, closing out their homestand against Lewis University. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.