MENOMONIE, Wis. – The Carleton softball team dropped a pair of close games at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, falling 4-2 and 5-1. Junior shortstop Michael Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Blake) was a perfect 3-for-3 with both runs scored for the visitors in the opener.
The Knights got on the scoreboard first in game one. Johnson singled, moved up on a pair of groundouts, and then scored easily on Hannah Maras’ (Sr./Madelia, Minn.) triple. The other run came in the sixth as Johnson singled, moved to third on double by Lisa Friedman (Sr./Pasadena, Calif./Flintridge Preparatory) and trotted home on a Blue Devil fielding miscue.
Mari Jo Long (Sr./Willmette, Ill./New Trier) struck out eight while yielding only two earned runs in her route-going effort in the opener.
UW-Stout scored in each of the first three innings of game two off Carleton starter Karen Robinson (Bainbridge Island, Wash.). The rookie hurler fanned a season-best six batters.
The Knights conclude the 2009 campaign with a doubleheader at St. Olaf College on Saturday, April 25.