Pride split second straight non-conference doubleheader at Viterbo
LA CROSSE, Wis. - In a rematch from an early season matchup on neutral turf, the Clarke University softball team split a pair of games against Viterbo Unversity on the road on Thursday afternoon.
A pair of low scoring affairs saw the Pride drop the opener 2-1 as they were only able to manage one hit in the game then bounced back to earn a 1-0 win behind a strong pitching performance from junior Payge Pyszka.
Pyszka earned a complete game shutout allowing just three hits and one walk with one strikeout in the 1-0 victory where the only inning where she didn't face the minimum amount of batters was in the third inning where the V-Hawks produced three singles to load the bases but a nice defensive play cut down a runner at the plate then Pyszka got a pop out to end the inning still up 1-0.
Clarke had the one-run advantage thanks to a solo home run from Teal Transburg for her first collegiate long ball for the sophomore from Chugiak, Alaska as she continues to make the most of her opportunities at the plate as of late, producing her fourth-straight two-hit game and sixth multi-hit game of the season in just 23 games played and 43 plate appearances.
Harlee Makue-Vasconcellos, who had the lone hit in game one, also had a hit and a walk in game two, while Lauren Hefel and Hannah Palzkill both produced doubles, and Olivia Sikora finished the game 1-for-3 getting the start in center field.
Game one had Viterbo get their early lead in the third inning then added another in the fifth where CU would fight back in their last at bats in the top of the seventh when Makue-Vasconcellos got on base via an error to lead off the inning before a walk and another error made it bases loaded for Palzkill to drive in a run with a sacrifice fly but VU would end the game on a 4-6-3 double play for the win.
Pride softball will return home for a day off on Friday before getting back on the road for Olathe, Kan. for a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against MidAmerica Nazarene University with a scheduled first pitch of 1:00 p.m. CT.