ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Freshman
Jessica Shields had two hits and drove in a run, but Wisconsin-Parkside's seventh-inning rally fell just short as the Rangers lost to Lindenwood 4-2 on Saturday in the opener of a three-game series at the Lou Brock Sports Complex.
With the Rangers trailing 4-1 in the top of the seventh inning, pinch-hitter
Raegan Fingerman drew a walk to being the rally.
Caressa DeRossett grounded out, which advanced pinch-runner
Sara Markelonis to second base.
Markelonis then moved to third base on a passed ball and came home to score when Shields singled to right to bring the Rangers to within 4-2. With the tying run at the plate, Lindenwood starting pitching Stormee Galka induced a fielder's choice to end the Wisconsin-Parkside rally.
Shields finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI to pace the Wisconsin-Parkside offense, while
Cassie Walek also drove in a run for the Rangers.
Lexi Theis had two hits and drove in a run for the Lions, while Austin Pauley and Hannah Johnson also had RBI's for Lindenwood.
Galka picked up the victory on the mound for the Lions as she allowed two hits and one earned run in 7.0 innings, while
Carly Dundee suffered the loss after permitting four runs in 6.0 innings and striking out three batters.
Lindenwood, which improved to 3-6 on the season, jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Wisconsin-Parkside, which dropped to 4-10 and had its two-game winning streak halted, answered with a run in the top of the third inning. With one out,
Madison Manders drew a walk to begin the Rangers comeback. Shields followed with an infield single and advanced to second on an error, which allowed Manders to advance to third base.
The Rangers cut the lead in half when Walek reached on a fielder's choice and Manders beat the throw to the plate to bring Wisconsin-Parkside to within 2-1. The Rangers put runners on first and second when Dundee was hit by a pitch, but Galka notched a strikeout to end the threat.
Lindenwood countered with single runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to increase the lead to 4-2.
The two teams will complete the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.
