WEST SALEM — The West Salem High School softball team broke away from a one-run game with a nine-run fifth inning to beat visiting Viroqua 11-1 in a five-inning Coulee Conference game on Wednesday.
First baseman Madison Elsen went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs, and shortstop Parker Powell was 3 for 3 with two doubles and drove in two runs for the first-place Panthers (12-2 overall, 8-1 Coulee).
West Salem had 10 of its 14 hits in the fifth, and Elsen ended the game with a two-run single. Powell also hit a two-run double in the fifth.
West Salem pitcher Josie Brudos pitched a three-hitter — all singles — and struck out 10 without walking a batter. She also walked three times, stole two bases and scored two runs.
Center fielder Brooklyn Lee was 2 for 4, right fielder Kylie Elsen 2 for 4 with three runs scored and Brenna Pontius 2 for 3 with a triple. Third baseman Briauna Mathison also doubled for the Panthers.
Aquinas 5, Logan 4 (8)
LA CROSSE — The Blugolds (6-4, 2-4 MVC) won for the fifth time in six games when pitcher Abby Ziolkowski singled home right fielder Addison Walker for the winning run with two outs on the board in the bottom of the eighth.
Ziolkowski pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts and seven walks to go with five hits allowed but just two earned runs allowed.
First baseman Ava Scholze was 2 for 3 with an early two-run home run and drove in three runs for Aquinas, which also received two hits from third baseman Lauren VonRuden.
The Rangers (6-5, 1-4) singled four times but received a double off the bat of second baseman Norah Keller that scored Emma Bacon with the tying run in the top of the sixth.
