KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- Junior
Madison Manders had three hits, including a pair of doubles, but Lex Van Nostrand hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning of game two as Truman State rallied to defeat Wisconsin-Parkside 7-3 to complete a sweep of the Rangers Great Lakes Valley Conference opening doubleheader on Saturday at the Truman State Softball Park.
Truman State, which improved to 19-9 overall and 2-0 in conference play, won game one of the doubleheader 5-2. Wisconsin-Parkside dropped to 4-14 overall and 0-2 in league play.
Manders had a pair of doubles in game two, while
Jessica Shields,
Kellie Fenza,
Adrien Hall,
Cassie Walek and
Allison Hausl each had one hit in the second game. Hall drove in a pair of runs in the game two, while Shields also had an RBI.
The Rangers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in game two with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, Fenza began the Rangers rally with a single and advanced to second when
Carly Dundee drew a walk.
Wisconsin-Parkside loaded the bases when
Rachel Seefeldt was hit by a pitch and Hall followed with a single to center that brought home both Fenza and Dundee giving the Rangers the early lead.
After Truman State cut the lead to 2-1 with a run in the bottom of the third inning, Wisconsin-Parkside answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning.
Walek hit a one-out single to start the rally, but was erased when Hausl reached on a fielder's choice and Walek was put out at second base. Manders kept the rally alive with a double and Shields reached on a fielder's choice which brought home Hausl to increase the lead to 3-1.
Truman State climbed to within 3-2 with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning and then took the lead for good by scoring five times in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Hausl started game two for the Rangers and went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs, while striking out one batter.
Dundee and
Megan Aliverti had two hits for Wisconsin-Parkside in the opening game, while Shields, Seefeldt and Manders each had one hit. Seefeldt hit a home run and Dundee also drove in a run in the opening game.
The Rangers scored first in game one also as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Shields led off the game with an infield single and stole second base to move into scoring position. She advanced to third on a groundout by Fenza and scored when Dundee singled to right.
Truman State took the lead in the bottom of the first by scoring a pair of runs, but the Rangers responded in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game.
With one out, Seefeldt blasted a solo homer to center to tie the game at 2-2. It marked her second homer of the season, which is second on the team.
Truman State regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning and then added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Wisconsin-Parkside returns to action on Sunday (March 19) when it faces Quincy in a GLVC doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. in Quincy, Ill.
