Wausau Drops both in Mankato Double Header
MANKATO, MN. – A complete 180 from last week’s series against the Mankato Habaneros. Solid pitching was on display from both teams, but the Ignite couldn’t get anything going on offense all day.
How It Happened Game One
Mankato put down the first three batters of the day to start the first inning. Maya Rudy (Benedictine, IL) got the start in the circle for Wausau in game one. The Habneros struck first to go up 1-0, but Rudy collected a strikeout in the inning.
Mia Johnson (UW-Parkside) drew a leadoff walk but was stranded to close the top of the inning. A sac fly brought across a run for the Habaneros. The defence limited any extra damage to get out of the inning down 2-0.
Karina Tollberg (St. Thomas, MN), one of the newest Ignite members, joining the team on the road in Mankato, led off the third with a single. Kylie Weingart (St. Thomas, MN), another Ignite in her first game, drew a walk in the subsequent at-bat. Wausau loaded the bases with no outs after a Taylor Liebelt (Illinois State) walk. Tollberg scored after a Claire Calmes (UW-Madison) sac-fly. Mia Johnson once again came in clutch with a bases-clearing double to put the Ignite up 3-2. A fantastic play by Riley Schwisow (Northwestern State) at third and another strikeout for Maya Rudy took the Habaneros three up and three down.
Viola Smith (Eastern Illinois) roped a one-out single to reach base but was left stranded. An RBI double tied up the game at three apiece. Another single and a passed ball put two runners in scoring position with one out. A 2-RBI single gave the Habaneros the lead back. A missed play scored another run for Mankato. One more run came across on a sac-fly with the Habaneros up 7-3 through four innings.
The Ignite would go down in three to start the fifth inning. Booke Steinhorst (Loyola Chicago) came in for relief in the bottom of the fifth. Steinhorst collected her first and second strikeout since June 13th to keep the score 7-3.
Riley Schwisow found a two-out single to get on base, and a four-pitch walk to Viola Smith put two runners on. Both would be stranded. The Wausau defense once again took the Habaneros down in order.
Down 7-3 in the top of the seventh, a lead-off hit-by-pitch for Kylie Weingart put one runner on. A Marley Teasley (Washington) fielder’s choice took away the lead runner in Weingart and put the Ignite down to their final out. The Ignite took their first loss to the Habaneros all year in game one, losing 7-3.
How It Happened Game Two
The Ignite followed up the game one loss by being put down in order to start game two. Riley Stiles (Lake Forrest) got the start and secured her first two strikeouts of the night despite Mankato going up 3-0.
Wausau once again went down in order, with Mankato swiftly retiring the side. The Ignite put away the Habaneros without giving up any more runs.
Mankato kept the Ignite off the board with spectacular fielding despite Karina Tollberg drawing a walk. With one out on the board, Wausau wore a walk and a single before an error scored another run for Mankato. Riley Stiles’ third strikeout and a quick putout limited more damage.
With one out away, Taylor Liebelt found a single. To break up a 3.1-inning no-hitter. With two outs, Kylie Weingart secured her first Northwoods League hit. Both would be left stranded. The Ignite defense flashed the leather and held the Habaneros runless.
Still down 4-0, Wausau couldn’t find any offensive momentum and returned to the field quickly. An RBI single put the Habaneros up 5-0.
Marley Teasley led off the sixth with a walk but would be stranded. Riley Stiles collected her fourth strikeout of the game.
Down 5-0 in the seventh, the Ignite went down in three to drop both games of the doubleheader.
Coming Up Next
The Ignite will play one more in Mankato, July 13th, with first pitch set for 6:35 pm on Flo Sports. The Ignite will return home to face Grand Forks in a doubleheader on Thursday, the 16th, with first pitch set for 5:05 pm.
You can stay up to date with the Ignite by visiting ignitesoftball.com and catching all games live on Flo Sports or select games on the Women’s Sports Network.
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Leveraging the 31-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 beginning 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.
