Arcadia softball team splits with Luther

The Arcadia softball team finally broke out on Friday after losing two games earlier in the week.

The Raiders allowed four runs late as they lost to Onalaska Luther at home on Monday of last week. On Tuesday, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau came away with a 12-0 win (see story elsewhere in Sports). But, on Friday, it was a different story as the Raiders broke out with 16 runs to beat Luther by 13 for their first win of the season.

Now 1-6 overall (1-4 in Coulee Conference play), the Raiders have another busy week. They were scheduled to host Viroqua for a doubleheader on Monday before welcoming Black River Falls for a game on Tuesday. They’ll head to West Salem on Thursday  and host a tournament with Blair-Taylor and Elk Mound on Saturday. 

This coming Tuesday, the Raiders host Westby for a twin-bill before playing a couple of non-conference games at Altoona on Thursday and La Crosse Aquinas next week Friday. 

Luther 6 Arcadia 4

The Knights got to the Raiders late with four runs in the sixth inning.

The Raiders held a 4-2 lead before an error was followed by two hits and another error. A sacrifice fly was followed with two walks as the Knights put up four runs to take the lead.

Arcadia got two on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but couldn’t bring any of the runners home.

Both teams scored one in the second. Luther took a brief lead with another in the top of the fourth, but the Raider put up three in the bottom half of the inning. 

After two walks to start the inning, Kianna Suchla doubled in two and another scored on a groundout by Whitney Sonsalla.

The Raiders had six hits in the game as Casidi Pehler picked up two. They also earned five walks while striking out seven times.

Pehler took the loss, pitching the last two innings in relief of Bjorge. She allowed four walks and two hits while striking out one. Bjorge surrendered 11 hits and one walk while striking out four in five innings.

Arcadia 16 Luther 3

After the first inning, it was all Arcadia.

Both teams scored three runs in the first inning, but Arcadia coach Dave Bjorge said his daughter Courtney settled down in the circle after that before Pehler finished the game. It was Arcadia’s offense, though, that turned a close game into a lopsided affair.

The Raiders took the lead in the top of the second when Bjorge walked and scored on a single by Catherine Pehler. Bjorge scored again in the second as she singled and came all the way around.

Arcadia took complete control of the game in the sixth inning. Bjorge had a two-run double before Casidi Pehler tripled her home and Catherine Pehler grounded out to bring in another run as part of a five-run inning that put Arcadia ahead 11-3.

Sammy Berg hit an RBI single to get the scoring started in the seventh. Bjorge followed with an RBI single of her own a few batters later before Casidi Pehler doubled in another run. Catherine Pehler then broke the game wide open with her first career home run, a three-run shot that put the Raiders ahead by the final score.

Coach Bjorge said his team did a nice job of getting timely hits. 

Bjorge went four-for-four at the plate with three RBIs, while Catherine Pehler was two-for-five with four RBIs and Casidi Pehler was two-for-five with three RBIs. Arcadia had 12 hits in the game.

Bjorge struck out three while waking thee and allowing six hits in four innings. Casidi Pehler struck out three with one walk and one hit in three innings of work.