The Aquinas Blugolds will face off against the Onalaska Hilltoppers at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The last three games Aquinas has played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one.
On Monday, Aquinas didn't have quite enough to beat La Crosse Central and fell 6-5. The Blugolds haven't had much luck with the Riverhawks recently, as the team has come up short the last four times they've met.
Abby Ziolkowski spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered three earned (and three unearned) runs on nine hits and racked up eight Ks.
On the hitting side, Addy Watson was cooking despite her team's loss, going a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. Those doubles were her first of the season. The team also got some help courtesy of Ryann Klar, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
Meanwhile, Onalaska got the win against Sun Prairie West on Monday by a conclusive 12-5. The Hilltoppers might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won six matchups by six runs or more this season.
Sydney Kraus made a big impact while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out ten batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and four unearned) runs off four hits (and only one walk). She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in three consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-4 with one stolen base, one run, and one double.
In other batting news, Onalaska let MJ Heit and Cayenne Zinnecker run wild. Heit went 2-for-5 with one home run and two runs, while Zinnecker went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI, and one run. Those two doubles gave Zinnecker a new career-high. Kylie Gilhausen was another key player, going 2-for-3 with two runs, one double, and one RBI.
Onalaska was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .441. They are a perfect 6-0 when they post a batting average of .375 or better.
Onalaska's win was their fifth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 7-4. Those road victories came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 12.4 runs over those games. As for Aquinas, they now have a losing record of 4-5.
Aquinas might still be hurting after the 11-1 defeat they got from Onalaska in their previous matchup back in April. Will the Blugolds have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
