Softball Recap: Five Straight Home Victories for West Central Area

After low-scoring totals in their previous three matchup, West Central Area brought some dynamite into their most recent contest. They were the clear victors by a 17-4 margin over the Upsala Cardinals on Thursday. The victory was a breath of fresh air for the Knights as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.

Ashlyn Lohse was a major factor no matter where she played. She struck out seven batters over five innings while giving up four earned runs off five hits (and only one walk). Lohse was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base.

In other batting news, West Central Area let Brinley Ulrich and Breanna Bennett run wild. Ulrich went a perfect 3-for-3 with four stolen bases, four runs, and four RBI, while Bennett went 3-for-4 with five stolen bases, three runs, and three RBI. Another player making a difference was Natalie Allen, who went 1-for-3 with three stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI.

West Central Area always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .758. That's the best OBP they've posted all season.

Knights

Previous 5 Games (Home)

04/17/25 vs Upsala	17-4
04/11/25 vs Ada-Borup	12-2
05/20/24 vs Ashby	15-0
05/09/24 vs Minnewaska Area	7-6
05/08/24 vs Benson	11-1

West Central Area's win was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 3-3. The home victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.4 runs over those games. As for Upsala, they are on a four-game losing streak (dating back to last season) that has dropped them down to 0-3.

Looking ahead, West Central Area will take on Montevideo at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Upsala, they will face off against Swanville at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.