UW-Stout topped the St. Olaf softball team 6-3 and 16-3 in the Oles’ first games of the 2013 season on March 8, in Rosemount, Minn.
“We did not open as strong as we would have liked,” Head Coach Ruth Neuger said. “We had a lot of first-game jitters which resulted in errors which are killers for a team.”
These errors – totaling seven in all – helped the Blue Devils come back from a 3-1, fifth-inning deficit in game one and dominate the scoreboard in game two.
In the first game, center fielder Alex Lebens ’16 walked twice and hit a home run in her second collegiate at bat.
“I told myself before the game to just go up to the plate and do what I know how to do,” Lebens said. “It couldn’t have gone any better.”
Infielder Mackenzie Wolter ’13 went two-for-three in game one and drove in two runs in game two. Despite a three-run fifth inning in the second game, the Oles were unable to combat the Blue Devils’ ten hits.
Next up, St. Olaf plays Simpson College in a doubleheader on March 17, in Indianola, Iowa. The Oles travel to Clermont, Fla. over spring break where they will face 10 non-conference opponents.
“We will face great competition on our spring break trip which will be good for us,” Neuger said. “We will … come back ready for our conference season.”
“We’re looking forward to our spring break trip,” captain and pitcher Amy Prok ’13 said. “It is a great time to give everyone game experience so we can come back to Minnesota feeling confident about taking on the MIAC.”
