The Blugolds (12-3) got the first game in, falling to Central (Iowa) 9-1 in five innings. The second game with St. Scholastica (Minn.) was cancelled due to rain with no makeup date scheduled at this point.

Central (16-5) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Zana Lorbetske (Fr.-Rhinelander, Wis./Three Lakes) started in the circle but walked the first two batters she faced. Laura Raflik (So.-Plover, Wis./Pacelli) came on in relief and allowed the inherited runs to score, plus another but escaped further damage.

In the top of the second, the Blugolds responded with a run to cut the lead to 3-1. With runners on second and third, Abby Hansen (Fr.-Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna) grounded out to the pitcher to bring home the only run of the game.

Central scored again in the bottom of the second, to go back up by three, but Raflik kept them off the board until the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Central began to pull away. They tagged Raflik for three runs and the Blugolds went back to the bullpen, bringing in Emily Ruegemer (Jr.-St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral). Central added two more runs off Ruegemer to end the game due to the 8-run rule after five innings.

The Blugolds finished with four hits, one each by Taylor Pierce (So.-Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon), Sarah Fern (Sr.-Brooklyn Center, Minn./Park Center), Emily Haluska (Sr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) and Nikki Brooks (So.-New Richmond, Wis./St. Croix Central).

The Blugolds are scheduled to play at home Thursday against sixth-ranked Luther College (Iowa). Check www.blugolds.com later in the week in case there are changes to the schedule.  

-JM-