Raider softball team loses three in CC play

Struggles at the plate led to three losses for the Arcadia softball team as they lost to two teams they previously defeated this season.

The Raiders opened the week with a 6-2 loss to Black River Falls last week Monday. On Tuesday, they managed just two runs against a team they scored 12 against earlier this season, losing to Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau 4-2 (see story elsewhere in Sports). Thursday was another struggle as the Raiders lost to Onalaska Luther 5-4 after defeating the Knights 11-1 in late-April.

The three losses last week made it four straight for Arcadia as they fell to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in Coulee Conference play before Monday’s doubleheader against Viroqua. After a non-conference game in Tomah on Tuesday, the Raiders head to West Salem on Thursday. Home games against Westby this coming Tuesday and Black River Falls on June 7 close out the regular season.

BR Falls 6 Arcadia 2

Four runs in the sixth inning were the difference as the Raiders fell to the Tigers.

The teams were tied 2-2 before a number of defensive breakdowns helped the Tigers plate four runs and get the win.

Courtney Bjorge took the loss, allowing seven hits and no walks, while striking out three. Only two of BRF’s runs were earned.

Arcadia took the lead in the top of the first when Chloe Halverson led off with a walk and came around to score. BRF tied the game in the bottom of the second then took a 2-1 lead with a run in the third.

Hailey Sonsalla reached on an error in the top of the fourth and came around to score, tying the game for Arcadia.

The Raiders had six its in the game as Halverson and Hallie Tulip both had two.

Luther 5 Arcadia 4

The Raiders rallied, but it wasn’t enough as they lost for the third time last week.

Entering the final frame with a 5-2 deficit, Brynn Aspen sparked the Raiders with a one-out single. Chloe Halverson followed that with a single and later stole second to put runners on second and third. Both scored on a double by Casidi Pehler. The tying run would be left on second base, however, as a groundout ended the game. 

The Raiders got off to a quick start as Halverson led off with a single and scored on a fielder’s choice hit into by Pehler.

The Knights got that run back in the bottom of the first, then took control of the game with four runs in the fourth.

Arcadia chipped away as Maggie Kujak singled to lead off the fifth and scored on a single by Bjorge. After retiring in order in the sixth, the Raiders got two on the board in the seventh, but couldn’t get over the hump.

The Raiders had eight hits in the game as Halverson and Pehler both had two. Pehler had three RBIs to lead the team.

Bjorge took the loss, striking out four while allowing eight hits and two walks in six innings.