Earlier this season, Cardinal snapped a dubious streak by winning its first conference game since the 2019 season, and on Wednesday, the Huskies ended another streak by defeating rival Berkshire for the first time since 2016.
The Huskies erased a 3-2 deficit with a five-run fourth-inning and held off the Badgers for their first win in the rivalry game since a 10-4 victory on May 4, 2016, snapping a 12-game skid against their rivals.
“I’m speechless,” said Cardinal coach Haley Adams. “This had not been our week by any means losing a heartbreaker to Grand Valley on the road, and then having an off day (on Tuesday). We weren’t sure what we were going to get from our team today, but they proved us wrong. They were locked in and focused, and honestly, they were relaxed from the first pitch. Even late in the game when Berkshire strung together a couple of hits, the girls didn’t let that affect them. Hopefully, this is a huge step in the right direction for us.”
Emily Pleva had a big day for the Huskies as she went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Maggie Grant added two hits and a double, and Morgan Soltis was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Grant went the distance in the circle. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits and fanned five.
“I’m very emotional right now,” said Adams, who was a senior on the team that last beat Berkshire in 2016. “I couldn’t have done it without my entire coaching staff—Dave Krebs, Danny Grant, and Martha Barcikowski—and all the support I’ve gotten from families and the girls this season. We were joking around and said if we were to go on and lose every game from here on out, just beating Berkshire and having that rivalry win means so much to us.”
Whitney Davis led the Badgers with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with a triple, two runs scored, and an RBI. Liv Masink also had two hits for the Badgers and Kate Miller doubled.
Davis fanned three Huskies.
