TUCSON, ARIZ. -- The Siena Heights softball team earned a 24-1 win over North Central (Minn.) before a 3-2 loss to Dickinson State ended the Saints trip to Arizona. Siena finishes the week with a 9-3 mark for the trip. Kristi Carlson had a big day for Siena as she tallied two hits, two runs, and two RBIs against North Central (Minn.) before finishing the day with two hits and an RBI in the game against Dickinson State.
THE BASICS
Final Scores: Game 1: Siena Heights 24, North Central (Minn.) 1 (F/5 innings) | Game 2: Dickinson State 3, Siena Heights 2
Location: Tucson, Arizona (Lincoln Park Fields)
Records: Siena Heights (9-3), North Central (0-7), Dickinson State (5-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Siena Heights def. North Central (Minn.) 24-1 (5 innings)
The Saint bats were too much for the Rams as Siena pulled out to an early 6-0 lead after the 1st-inning. The Saints added to the lead in the second with 10 more runs to increase the lead to 16-0.
North Central (Minn.) tacked on one run in the 3rd-inning before allowing SHU an additional eight runs in the next two innings. Siena finished the game after achieving three outs in the top of the 5th-inning.
Vanessa Wandrie, Taylor Mowery, and Hayley Turk led the Saints with three RBIs each in the first game. Kristi Carlson, Ashley Helmink, and Izzy Howay each registered two RBIs.
Game 2: Dickinson State def. Siena Heights, 3-2
The Blue Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd-inning after the Saints put two runners on base with walks in the half inning. Dickinson State would add two more runs in the 4th-inning to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Siena Heights bats got going in the 7th-inning when Ashley Helmink lead off the inning with a single to left field. Jordan Bianchi doubled to left field two batters later to put runners on the corners for the Saints. Hayley Turk drove Helmink home with a single to left field. Kristi Carlson cut the deficit to just one run with a single up the middle that scored Bianchi. With one out two runners on base, Sam Hill hit a grounder to third base that was scooped up and turned for a double play to end the game before Siena Heights could complete the rally.
TOP SAINT HITTERS
= Vanessa Wandrie, Izzy Howay, Ashley Helmink, and Taylor Mowery each tallied a double in the Saints 24-1 win in game one of the day.
= Hayley Turk, Kristi Carlson, Helmink, and Mowery all hit triples against North Central (Minn.).
= Kelsey Uhl and Jordan Bianchi each registered a double in the losing effort against Dickinson State.
= Kristi Carlson drilled a triple in game two to bring her total to two on the day.
SAINT PITCHING
= Racquel Ward got the start in the circle for Siena in game one. She pitched 2.1 innings and allowed only one hit and one earned run while striking out two batters.
= Lauren Valdez (W, 1-0) was awarded her first win as a pitcher in the 2019 season after pitching 2.2 innings in relief in game one. She struck out five batters and allowed only one hit during her time in the game.
= Kelsey Uhl (L, 3-3) pitched all six innings for the Saints in game two. She gave two hits and one earned run while retiring two Blue Hawk hitters.
THE OPPOSITION HITTING
= Emma Bushey and Emily Loop each tallied a hit for North Central. Bushey brought in the team's only run in the game.
= Rhea Paiva and Emilie Sickler were the only two Blue Hawks to record a hit in game two.
OPPOSITION PITCHING
= Emma Bushey pitched the entire game for the Rams. She allowed 22 hits and seven earned runs while striking out two Saint batters.
= Jaya Allen picked up the "W" for Dickinson State. She struck out four Saints while allowing eight hits and two earned runs.
UP NEXT
The Saints will host Trinity International in a home-opening doubleheader on Thursday, March 14. The first game begins at 3:30 p.m. with the second game following the conclusion of game one.