GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay softball team (19-9, 5-3) pulled off a come from behind victory against Loyola in walk-off fashion Thursday afternoon at Ben Garot Field. With the 7-6 outcome, the Phoenix took two of three games from the Ramblers to win their second consecutive series against horizon league foes.
As Loyola (14-16, 6-6) took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth, the Phoenix was able to breakthrough against Rambler pitcher Amy Solava. Sara Junion (Egg Harbor, Wis.) led off the inning with a walk and was followed by a Melani Niederer (New Munster, Wis.) single, which brought up Green Bay's hottest hitter. Today marked Danielle Peerenboom's (Appleton, Wis.) first game as the three hitter for the Phoenix, but the switch made no difference as Peerenboom rocked a three-run home run to left center to knot the game at four. With the homer, Peerenboom has hit a round-tripper in five consecutive games which is a yet another Green Bay record.
The Phoenix was able to keep the momentum going in the sixth as Lauren Beres (New Berlin, Wis.) set the Ramblers down in order. In the bottom half of the inning, Niederer came to the plate with runners on second and third with only one out. With the Loyola infield playing in, Niederer lined a hard ground ball to Rambler shortstop Lauren Arceneaux. Arceneaus looked Kendra Woepse (Manitowoc, Wis.) back at third base then fired a strike to first base. However, Woepse broke for home and was able to beat the throw to give Green Bay their first lead of the game.
The lead would be short lived as Loyola struck for two runs in the top half of the inning, but the Phoenix was in no mood to quit. Katie Cooney (East Moline, Ill.) led off the inning with a double to deep right center. After Andrea Pigeon (Sheboygan, Wis.) pinch ran for Cooney, Krissy Hanson (Arcadia, Wis.) slugged a triple to score the tying run and send the game into extras.
Beres was once again able to set the Ramblers down in order which set the stage for another Phoenix rally. Jenna Nitti (Green Bay, Wis.) walked with one out, which brought up new leadoff hitter Sara Junion. On the 1-1 pitch, Junion drove a single to left field which was misplayed by the outfielder and let Nitti score all the way from first. The exciting ending gave Green Bay the walk-off victory.
Freshman Lauren Beres came in relief in the second inning and threw seven strong giving up five hits and only two earned runs. With the performance, Beres improves her record to 7-2 on the season.
Green Bay is back in action Saturday as it hosts first-place Cleveland State at Ben Garot Field. Game one of the doubleheader is set to start at 1 p.m.
