GREEN
BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - The Green Bay (20-21, 7-13 HL) softball
team wrapped up its three game series against Valparaiso (30-18-1, 13-7 HL) Sunday
at Ben Garot Field falling 10-5 to the Crusaders in the rubber game. Before the
game Green Bay fans honored the senior class of Katie Cooney (East Moline,
Ill.), Sara Junion (Egg Harbor, Wis.) and Kendra Woepse (Manitowoc, Wis.) for
their dedication to the Green Bay softball program.
Valpo opened up the scoring in the
first inning of play scoring two runs with two outs. The first came off an RBI
single to right field while the second was scored off an RBI single to center
field. The Crusaders closed the half inning with two runs off three hits and
one error while stranding two runners.
Green Bay was able to load the bases in
the bottom of the second after Alli Rivera (Geneseo, Ill.) and Paige Newtols
(Green Bay, Wis.) were both hit by a pitch and Shannon Butts (Greenfield, Wis.)
walked. Crusaders' pitcher Alex Lagesse battled back on the mound stranding all
three Phoenix runners to end the inning.
With one out in the top of the third
the Crusaders added three runs off an RBI double to right field and an RBI sac
fly to boost its lead to 5-0.
Rivera had Green Bay's first hit of the
game in the bottom of the fourth, leading off the Phoenix with her fifth home
run of the season with a shot over the center field fence. Cooney followed up
with her second hit of the series, putting her alone on top of Green Bay's individual
career record list with 168 hits. In the inning Green Bay scored one run on two
hits, cutting Valpo's lead to 5-1.
Valpo matched Green Bay's home run
leading off the fifth with a shot over center field by Jordan Rutkowski to
boost the Crusaders' lead to 6-1. Valpo finished the half inning scoring two
runs off three hits to lead 7-1.
Amanda Pozolinski (Appleton, Wis.) led
off the bottom of the fifth with a single to left field before Junion also singled
to left with one out. With two outs on the board, Rivera hit an RBI single to
right field scoring Pozolinski to make it 7-2. Green Bay closed the inning with
three hits while stranding two runners.
With one out in the top of the sixth
Valpo's Sadie Conner hit a three-run homer to right center field to go up 10-2.
The Crusaders posted its three runs on two hits while stranding one runner
thanks to an Ashley Nannemann (Burlington, Wis.) strike out to end the inning
for Valpo.
Woepse hit her single season best fourth
home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run shot over
the right field fence, scoring Newtols and Jessica Hrncar (Bristol, Wis.) who
was pinch running for Butts. Green Bay closed the innings with three runs off
three hits to cut the Crusaders lead in half (10-5).
The Crusaders retired the side to win
the series with a 10-5 victory over the Phoenix.
Rivera went 2-for-3 behind the plate
with two RBIs to lead Green Bay while Cooney pitched four innings while
striking out two batters.
Green
Bay will head to Madison Wednesday, April 4 to play in-state rival Wisconsin in
a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
