MADISON, WIS. – The Mankato Habaneros fell 9-3 to the Madison Night Mares on Tuesday night at Warner Park.

Madison jumped ahead early with two runs in each of the first two innings before adding three more in the third. The Night Mares hit seven home runs, accounting for eight of their nine runs.

The Habaneros got on the board in the fourth when Lydia Banse (Minnesota State University) and Katy Olive (Miami University – OH) reached base before Kylinn Stangl (University of Minnesota) blasted a two-run home run, her third of the season. Mankato added its final run in the sixth as Valerie VanZant (University of Minnesota – Crookston) drove in Olive with an RBI single.

VanZant paced the Habaneros with a 2-for-3 performance and an RBI, while Olive, Stangl, Joscelyn Bennett (Southwest Baptist University), and Ava Parent (University of Wisconsin) each collected a hit. Bennett also doubled.

Marleigh Louvar (University of St. Thomas) threw a complete game, striking out two over six innings.

The Habaneros will look to even the series when they face the Night Mares again on Wednesday at 5:05 pm.

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Leveraging the 32-year success of the Northwoods League, the first for-profit Summer Collegiate Baseball League, Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) is the first for-profit Women’s Summer Collegiate Softball League that began play in the Upper Midwest in the summer of 2024.  The purpose of the League will be to develop players for their college, Olympic and future professional play.  Teams will be promoted similar to minor league baseball teams, playing games in front of fans in a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment.