FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Apr. 20, 2015)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside softball squad fell just shy of its first Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader sweep of the season on Monday afternoon, edging host Rockhurst University 4-3 in the opener before having a late rally cut short in an 8-4 setback in game two to settle for the series split at Loyola Park.

Carly Dundee was a one-woman wrecking crew in the opener, driving in three runs and tossing a complete game inside the circle to give the Rangers (7-32, 2-22 GLVC) the 4-3 victory.

The Rangers jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Dundee belted a two-run home run over the left center field fence. Courtney Ellingson got things started with a two out single to center field before coming home on the next at-bat thanks to the Dundee bomb.

The host Hawks (24-18, 14-12 GLVC) pushed across single runs in both the second and third innings to tie the game before Parkside seized the lead for good in the top of the fifth with a two-run outburst.

Ellingson brought in the frame's first score on a double to left center field, plating Emily Bell who reached base on an infield single before a Dundee single brought in Paige Harbord for the 4-2 lead.

A solo home run in the sixth brought Rockhurst within one run and the hosts had runners on first and second base in the seventh before Dundee induced a lineout to end the game and give the Rangers the win.

Dundee led the way, going two-for-three at the plate with three RBIs while Ellingson and Gosser both finished two-for-four. In the circle, stuck out one and allowed three runs in seven innings of work to tally the win. Her counterpart, Demi Plathe, absorbed the loss, allowing three earned runs in 4 1/3 innings of action.

In game two, it was a five-run second inning that ultimately derailed the Rangers, giving host Rockhurst the 8-4 victory to avoid the sweep.

The Hawks offense came alive in the second inning, pumping out five hits and scoring five runs to seize the early advantage. The Rangers responded with three runs in the third inning, closing the gap to just two.

Megan Holderby singled to left field to score Kalli Gosser while Parkside etched its second run of the inning on a wild pitch with Ellingson scoring. A Morgan Dastych single brought in Dundee before a groundout prevented further damage for Rockhurst.

RU piled on three more runs in the fifth inning with a Lauren Cairo double clearing the bases for the 8-3 edge.

UW-Parkside mounted a late charge with two outs in the seventh with an Alexis Simone single scoring Dundee to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. The Hawks once again averted disaster, getting the final out on a fielder's choice to claim the game two win.

Parkside outhit Rockhurst in the nightcap, collecting 11 hits with Gosser, Ellingson, Dundee and Dastych all finishing with a pair of base knocks.

Ellingson absorbed the loss, allowing five earned runs and striking out two in three innings of action while Amber Ramos struck out two over the final three frames while allowing just two hits. Rockhurst's Bridgette Sappington weathered 11 hits and four earned runs to notch the complete game win, striking out six.

The Rangers return to the diamond on Saturday, hosting Missouri University S&T at the Case Complex in the team's penultimate doubleheader of the season.