The Green Knight Softball team took on the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors in a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, 2024. The games took place at Neumann Family Softball Field in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The Warriors won the first game 9-6, but the Green Knights battled back to win the second game 6-4 in 10 innings.
In the second game, the Green Knights jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Karleigh Linssen (‘27) doubled and advanced to third on a ground ball by Andrianna Volz (‘26). Linssen then scored on an RBI single by Allison Ardito (‘26). In the bottom of the second inning, however, the Warriors tied it up 1-1 on a sacrifice fly.
Neither team plated any runs in the third and fourth innings, but the Warriors gained a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors started off the inning with a single and advanced their runner to third with a fly ball and a groundout. An unfortunate error by the Green Knights allowed a run to score and for the inning to continue. Back-to-back doubles then plated two more runs for the Warriors before the Green Knights secured the third out.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Green Knights earned back one run. Volz got on base after being hit by a pitch. Volz then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground ball by Ardito. A single by Zoe Zasada (‘26) scored Volz, making the score 4-2 still in favor of the Warriors. The Green Knights made quick work of the Warriors in the bottom of the sixth and returned to offense in the top of the seventh, needing two runs to keep the game going.
Christina Paleka (‘24) got things started for the Green Knights in the top of the seventh with a single. Kathryn Bergin (‘27) then singled to right and advanced to second on an error. Paleka scored on the error, making the score 4-3 and putting the Green Knights within one run of tying up the score. Addison Race (‘26) came in to pinch hit and got a single, scoring pinch runner Morgan Jarvi (‘26). The Green Knights loaded the bases but could not plate any more runs. The score was tied 4-4. The Warriors went three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh, and the game went to extra innings.
In the next two innings, both teams threatened to score. The Warriors left two runners on in the bottom of the eighth, and the Green Knights left bases loaded in the top of the ninth. Finally, the Green Knights pulled ahead in the top of the tenth. Paleka reached base on a fielder’s choice. Bergin then reached base on an error, and Paleka advanced to second. Nikki Condon (‘24) drew a walk, loading the bases for the Green Knights. Linssen then singled to center, scoring two runs for the Green Knights. The Green Knights held the Warriors in the bottom of the tenth inning and won the game 6-4.
The Green Knight offense recorded 17 hits. Cassie Schultz (‘25) was the starting pitcher for the Green Knights and lasted seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Amber Johanek (‘27) came in to pitch for the Green Knights in the eighth inning and allowed zero runs on two hits.