LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Freshman
Jessica Shields had three hits and drove in two runs, including the go-ahead single in the top of the sixth inning, leading Wisconsin-Parkside to a 5-2 victory over host Bellarmine on Saturday and a split of the teams Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at Knights Field.
Bellarmine won the opener 3-0 as Sabrina Fussenegger tossed a five-hit shutout before the Rangers rallied to win game two behind Shields and the pitching of senior
Carly Dundee.
Wisconsin-Parkside, which improved to 14-24 overall and 9-11 in the GLVC, took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning of game two.
Madison Manders led off the inning by drawing a walk and Shields followed with an RBI triple down the rightfield line giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
One batter later, Dundee lifted a sacrifice fly to center to score Shields and push the Ranger lead to 2-0.
Bellarmine, which dropped to 21-25 overall and 9-13 in conference play, immediately answered the Rangers with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Rachel Fox and Paige Dabney had RBI singles for the Knights that tied the score at 2-2.
The Ranger defense prevented the Knights from taking the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Fox singled to left but the Rangers relay from
Danielle Crockett to
Allison Hausl to
Megan Aliverti cut down Melissa Hammer at the plate keeping the score tied at 2-2.
Wisconsin-Parkside then took the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Hausl singled to left to start the rally and Aliverti followed with a double to centerfield to advance Hausl to third base.
Manders walked to load the bases and Shields then slapped a single through the left side that brought home Hausl with what proved to be the winning run. The Rangers tacked on a run when
Kellie Fenza reached on a fielding error, which allowed pinch-runner
Emilee Nelson to score to up the lead to 4-2.
The Rangers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when
Cassie Walek scored from second on a fielding error with one out to increase the lead to 5-2.
Hausl finished the game 3-for-4 with a run scored for the Rangers, while Dundee,
Rachel Seefeldt,
Jessica Crull, Walek and Aliverti each had base hits in game two.
Dundee earned the win for the Rangers as she notched her ninth win of the season by pitching 7.0 innings and allowing one earned run while striking out five batters.
Bellarmine won the opening game of the doubleheader 3-0 by scoring single runs in the first, third and sixth innings, while Fussenegger blanked the Rangers.
Wisconsin-Parkside received base hits from Shields, Dundee, Seefeldt, Crull and Walek in game one of the doubleheader. Hausl took the loss for the Rangers as she went 6.0 innings and allowed only four hits and two earned runs.
Wisconsin-Parkside returns to action on Monday (April 17) when it hosts Saint Xavier at 3 p.m. at the Case Softball Complex in a non-conference doubleheader.
