SOMERS, Wis. -- Senior
Carly Dundee tossed a four-hit shutout and also drove in three runs leading the Wisconsin-Parkside softball team to a 7-0 victory over Saint Xavier in game two of a non-conference doubleheader earning the Rangers a split on Monday at the Case Softball Complex.
The Rangers bounced back to win game two after dropping the opening game of the doubleheader 8-5 to the Cougars.
Dundee needed only 78 pitches to power through the Cougars lineup as she went 7.0 innings and allowed four hits and struck out two batters without permitting a walk. The win improved her record to 10-13 on the season, which marked the first time in her career she has reached double figures in the win column in a single season.
Dundee also paced the Ranger offense as she went 2-for-4 at the plate with two doubles and three RBIs while also scoring a run. Freshman
Jessica Shields ignited the top of the order for the Rangers as she was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and upped her season stolen base total to a team-leading 19 with two steals.
Cassie Walek was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, while
Emilee Nelson hit a pinch hit two-run homer for the Rangers.
Wisconsin-Parkside jumped on the Cougars for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Shields opened game two with a single through the left side and stole second base. After
Kellie Fenza lined out to short, Dundee ripped a double to right centerfield to easily score Shields and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game.
After a groundout moved Dundee to third
Rachel Seefeldt drew a walk and Walek lashed a double to center that scored both Dundee and Seefeldt to push the Rangers advantage to 3-0.
Wisconsin-Parkside tacked on a run in the bottom of the second inning. Shields hit a one-out single to left, stole second base and scored when Dundee doubled to center giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
The Rangers added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Madison Manders drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second when Shields reached on an infield single. Fenza reached on a fielder's choice, which eliminated Shields but allowed Manders to move up to third base. Dundee then plated Manders with the Rangers fourth run of the game when she grounded out to second.
Wisconsin-Parkside increased the lead to 7-0 in the fifth inning when Nelson blasted her first home run of the season over the leftfield fence to score Walek ahead of her. That was more than enough offense for Dundee who only allowed one runner past second base, which happened in the second inning.
Wisconsin-Parkside dropped the opener 8-5 despite banging out 13 hits as the Rangers left 13 runners on base.
Fenza was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while Manders and Shields each had two hits. Seefeldt,
Jessica Crull, Walek,
Adrien Hall,
Rilie Berg and
Morgan Sikon each had hits for the Rangers in the opening game.
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Fenza singled to left, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on an illegal pitch.
Saint Xavier scored a run in the top of the second inning to tie the score at 1-1, but Fenza hit a double to left to score
Danielle Crockett in the bottom of the second inning putting the Rangers back in front 2-1.
The Cougars answered with a run in the top of the third inning and took the lead for good in the top of the fourth inning when Franchesca Graffeo hit a two-run homer giving Saint Xavier a 4-2 lead.
Wisconsin-Parkside climbed to within 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Crull hit a solo homer to left, which marked her first homer of the season.
The Rangers had a chance to tie the game in the sixth inning when they had the bases loaded with one out, but Cougar relief pitcher Caroline Kuzel got a strikeout and a fly out to end the scoring threat.
Saint Xavier then scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take an 8-3 lead over the Rangers. Wisconsin-Parkside rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning when Sikon ripped a two-run homer to left to cut the lead to 8-5 and later brought the tying run to the plate but Kuzel got a groundout to end the game.
Wisconsin-Parkside improved to 15-25 on the season with its game-two victory, while Saint Xavier dropped to 17-21 on the season.
The Rangers return to action on Saturday (April 22) and Sunday (April 23) for a pair of Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheaders. The Rangers face Rockhurst on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo., and William Jewell on Sunday in Liberty, Mo.
