V-Hawks Stun Cougars in Final Series Game

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The V-Hawks took to the field on Tuesday and Wednesday to compete in a competition against the conference's top-ranked Saint Xavier. Going into the series, the Cougars were undefeated in conference play for the season. The V-Hawks went 1-2 against the Cougars, and their record improves to 13-25 overall and 8-10 in CCAC play. The Cougars suffer their first conference loss, now 20-1 in CCAC play. 

GAME ONE (VU 1, SXU 7)

In the first game of the series, the Cougars scored first to go up 1-0 in the first inning. The V-Hawks responded in the third inning, tying the game at 1-1. Elie Klar reached first on an error, and Ava Anderson made it home. In the third inning, the Cougars Struck again with a single-run homer. The V-Hawks held off the Cougars through the fifth inning, but late in the game, the Cougars scored five unanswered runs, and the V-Hawks fell 7-1 through seven innings. 

The V-Hawks were led from the plate by Ava Anderson and Natalie Martin. Both were the only two to had hits on the game. The only RBI of the competition came from Elie Klar. At the mound, Alexis Watson threw 122 pitches for 64 strikes. She faced 31 batters, allowing seven runs and 10 hits. Mia Weithaus relieved Watson, throwing 18 pitches and 10 strikes against six batters. She allowed no runs and just two hits. 

GAME TWO (VU 2, SXU 22)

In the second game of the series, the V-Hawks struggled defensively. Saint Xavier opened the game with four runs in the first inning. In the second inning, the Cougars added 10 more. The V-Hawks scored their only two runs of the game in the second inning. Rylee Koeller ran in Aydenn Sutton on a single, and Grace Elton ran in Alexis Watson on a double. The Cougars added six more in the third inning and one more in the fourth to take the five inning 22-2 victory. 

From the plate, the V-Hawks were led by Grace Elton and Rylee Koeller. Both had one hit and one RBI in one at-bat appearance. Elie Klar added the only other hit for the V-Hawks. Makenzie Woodhouse started in the circle for the second game, allowing six runs and eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched. She faced 21 batters, throwing 95 pitches and 43 strikes. Mia Weithaus pitched 1.1 innings, allowing 16 runs and 12 hits. She faced 21 batters, throwing 72 pitches for 36 strikes. 

GAME THREE (VU 9, SXU 6)

The V-Hawks came back on the second day to play the third game of the series. The team came back with a fire for revenge after their first day. The Cougars scored first, picking up three runs in the second inning. The V-Hawks quickly responded, snagging two runs in the second on an Alexis Watson single that ran in Natalie Martin and Makella Jacobs. In the fourth inning, the V-Hawks struck again, tying the game at 3-3 with an Ava Anderson single that ran in Grace Elton and Alexis Watson. The Cougars answered, running in two more to take the 5-3 lead in the fifth. The V-Hawks tied it up again, running in Makella Jacobs and Alexis Watson in the fifth inning. Saint Xavier stole back the edge in the sixth inning, going up 6-5. 

With a full count and two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Marissa Carter-Olson swung at a pitch, cranking it out of the park for a three-run homer to take the late-game 8-6 lead. Natalie Martin finished the job with a home run on the next at-bat for a solo-run homer. The V-Hawks held off the Cougars in the top of the seventh, securing their first-ever win over Saint Xavier and handing the Cougars their first conference loss of the season. 

The V-Hawks were led at the plate by Marissa Carter-Olson and Alexis Watson. Watson had two hits and three RBIs in her three appearances. While Marissa Carter-Olson only had one hit, she nailed four RBIs for the V-Hawks. Elie Klar and Natalie Martin each added two hits for the V-Hawks. Other hits on the day came from Ava Anderson, Alyssa Roos, and Rylee Koeller. 

Alexis Watson pitched the full game for the V-Hawks, facing 34 batters through seven innings. She allowed 10 hits and six runs. Through the competition, she tossed 109 pitches for 58 strikes, recording three strikeouts on the day. 

UP NEXT

The V-Hawks will travel to Illinois this weekend to compete against Judson. The games are set for Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.