MADISON, WI – The Norse Softball Team (15-25) wrapped up their regular season with a pair of games at Madison College (36-5) on Saturday afternoon. The WolfPack swept the Norse, taking both ends of the doubleheader by scores of 13-0 and 7-2.
In the opener the Norse were shut down by Mallory Sterling (SO, Chippewa Falls, WI). She allowed just one hit and walked two, all while striking out 12 Bay batters.
Meanwhile the WolfPack offense poured it on, collecting 13 runs on 16 hits. Madison left little doubt in the game as they put up five runs in the first and six in the second. The scoring barrage was highlighted by a two-run home run from Megan Miklesh (SO, Plover, WI).
Hannah Edington (SO, Millington, MI) started and took the loss for the Norse. Korey Kaukola (SO, Champion, MI) pitched an inning in relief.
The Norse took an early lead in game two. After Sarah Wynn (FR, Pitt Meadows, BC) doubled and Lexi Challier (SO, Escanaba, MI) walked, Taelor Zeise hit a fly ball to center that fell for a two-RBI double.
The lead was short-lived however. In the bottom of the first with two on and one out, Mia Noelker (FR, Overland Park, KS) drove in a run with a single, and Taylor Vonbehern (FR, DeForest, WI) tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left.
At that point both pitchers settled in and the game remained tied until the bottom half of the fourth. It was then that the WolfPack took the lead with a one-out double from Grace Medeiros (FR, Beaver Dam, WI) to drive in the go-ahead run.
Madison added a run in the fifth. Maddie Kvatek (FR, Stevens Point, WI) tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a single from Noelker. The WolfPack put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth as they got a pair of two-RBI doubles from Katherine Brandl (SO, Fort Atkinson, WI) and Kvatek.
Lauren Steien (FR, Taylor, WI) picked up a win in the pitcher's circle with a complete game effort. She gave up five hits and one walk while striking out five.
Kaukola took the loss. Five of the seven runs were earned.
Kvatek was three for four with two RBI, a double, a triple, and two runs scored. Brandl and Noelker picked up a pair of hits as well.
Wynn and Zeise each had two hits in three at bats for the Norse.
Bay will now go on to the Eastern Sub-Region Tournament on Tuesday. They are the second seeded team in a three-team tournament. They will face Gogebic Community College at 1 PM. The winner of that game will face Dakota County later that evening. The Norse swept Gogebic in four games this season. The tournament will be hosted by Dakota County Technical College.