Wausau Ignite
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — After waiting out a 30-minute rain delay, the Wausau Ignite and La Crosse Steam played a slugfest, combining for 30 runs and 32 hits in a 16-14 victory for the visitors.
The Ignite would trail early, going down 4-0 in the first inning, with the top of the first getting closed out with a Claire Calmes (UW-Madison) foul-territory catch over a falling Riley Schwisow (Northwestern State).
Lead-off batter Mia Johnson would hit a home run on the first pitch she saw. Quinn Marnocha (SDSU) would get her second hit of the year up next, and Riley Schwisow would reach on a hit by pitch. Marnocha would score on a sac fly by Claire Calmes, setting the game at 4-2.
A 1-2-3 inning by the Ignite defence in the top of the second would lead to a Morgan Smith (Prairie View A&M) walk, a Sydney Spear (UW-Madison) single, and a Mia Johnson walk. Quinn Marnocha would notch another RBI off another sac fly to set the score at 4-3.
Another no-run inning by Riley Stiles (Lake Forrest) in the third would allow the Ignite offence to pick up where they left off. Marley Teasly (Washington), Mia Buske (SDSU) and Morgan Smith would all walk to load the bases before Sydney Spear would step up to bat, where Teasly and Buske would score after an error by the second baseman. Mia Johnson would bring home Morgan Smith on a sac fly for Wausau to capture their first lead of the game, 6-4.
Cassidy Gall (Drake) would come in for relief in the fourth, where the Steam would score five, taking back the lead. Wausau up to bat next would see Claire Calmes single to get on base, Marley Teasley double to put runners in scoring position, and then Ava Arenz (Northern Colorado) would enter to pinch hit. Arenz would double and bring home Teasley and Calmes. Morgan Smith would then reach on a single, and Sydney Spear would advance runners and allow Arenz to score on a 4-3 putout. Mia Johnson would score another RBI on the night with a sac fly to bring home Morgan Smith. The Ignite would take back the lead 10-9.
Gall and the Wausau defence would go 1-2-3 and bring home four more runs in the fifth. Madison Werner (UW-Madison), in for Schwisow, would walk, and then Brynn Daniel would launch her first home run as an Ignite into left field. Calmes would double, and Marley Teasly would bring home Calmes on a single to center. Arenz would single, and Morgan Smith would single to bring home Teasly. The Ignite would lengthen their lead to 14.
In the sixth, the Steam would retaliate once again with two runs off of two hits and an error in the top of the sixth. The Ignite would leave two on base to close the sixth, 14-11
In the top of the seventh, the Ignite would give up five runs on seven hits, taking the lead 16-14 with Riley Stiles coming back into the game for Maya Rudy (Benedictine). The Ignite would go three up and three down to end the game.
Wausau returns home to host Grand Forks this evening. First pitch at Athletic Park is scheduled for 6:35.
The Woodchucks are on the road in Lakeshore for the first of four against the Chinooks on Saturday.
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