ROCHESTER, Minn. -- St. Kate's softball made their season debut with a sweep of the University of Wisconsin Lacrosse on Sunday at the RCTC Dome in Rochester, Minn. The Wildcats' opening-day effort included 3-1 and 8-1 victories over the Eagles after 359 days without competition. 

GAME 1 | St. Kate's 3, UW-Lacrosse 1
Junior Angela Huepfel led the Wildcats to a 3-1 victory in game one with the team's first home run of the 2021 season. Huepfel went 2 for 3 with one run and one RBI. Sophomore Shannon Leahy made her debut in the purple and gold after playing her rookie season for the Winona State Warriors. As the leadoff hitter, Leahy was 1 for 3 and one run getting St. Kate's on the scoreboard first. Lindsay Burr tallied the team's second run in the fourth inning after getting on base off an error from the Eagles pitcher. 

Annabelle Schutte earned the win in the circle pitching 6 innings and tallying 3 strikeouts. Kathryn Proper closed out the game allowing one run in the seventh inning and collecting one strikeout.  

GAME 2 | St. Kate's 8, UW-Lacrosse 1
Sophomore Taylor Brunn had a day in game two going 4 for 4 with 3 runs. In total six players returned home in six innings including Leahy with one more in-game two off of two hits. Alex Ehde was 1 for 4 with one 1 and one RBI while Huepfel went 2 for 4 with three RBI and one double.  The Wildcats' three other runs came from senior Alyssa Wicks, junior Jasmine Ziegler, and sophomore Julia Azure while Burr added the other two RBI. 

Proper collected the win in game two allowing one run off of six hits with two strikeouts. Sophomore Alyssa Montero entered the game for the final inning tallying two strikeouts off thirteen pitches. 

The Wildcats return to action Saturday, March 13 as they host UW-Eau Claire for a pair of non-conference games at the Dundas Dome in Northfield, Minnesota.