The Dubuque Wahlert softball team came ready to play Tuesday night in a doubleheader against Cedar Rapids Prairie,

The Golden Eagles scored three runs in the first inning of each game, en route to a 6-2 win in the opener and 4-1 win in the nightcap at the Prairie softball field.

Kaitlyn Burds' bases-clearing double in the opener put the Golden Eagles up 3-0.

Prairie bounced back in the fourth inning with an RBI double by Samantha Frederick and RBI single by Brittney Lash to make the score 3-2, but that was as close as the Hawks got.

The Golden Eagles tacked on three more runs in the sixth to salt away the game.

Prairie Coach Kim Hynek said she felt that the first inning shifted the momentum in Wahlert's favor.

“In the first inning our pitchers need to do a good job at setting the tone and make sure we are not giving up multiple hits in a row,” said Hynek. “I think that is what leads to their big innings.”

The nightcap featured another fast start by Wahlert. The Golden Eagles put up another three spot in the first inning. Wahlert pitcher Gabby Tath gave herself some support, tagging a two-run single to left.

Lash doubled in a run in the seventh inning for Prairie.

Another bright spot for Prairie was second game pitcher Kaitlyn Baetsle, who struggled in the first inning, but found her groove and pitched a complete game, allowing only one run in the final six innings. “She did a nice job,” said Hynek, “She just needed to settle in a little bit.”

Prairie hosts Cedar Falls in a doubleheader Thursday.

Game 1

WAHLERT (6)
Rokusek, 3b, 4 2 1 1, Schmitt, 2b, 4 0 1 1, Nilles, ss, 4 0 1 1, A. Bahl, c, 4 1 2 0, Koppes, p, 4 1 0 0, Burds, lf, 4 1 3 3, Tath, 1b, 4 0 0 0, Duve, cf, 4 0 0 0, Moore, rf, 3 1 0 0  Totals  35 6 8 6.

PRAIRIE (2)
Crist, c, 4 0 2 0, Stecklein, 2b, 4 0 1 0, Carver, cf, 4 0 2 0, Wieland, ss, 4 0 1 0, Blaha, lf, 4 1 1 0, Kuch, dh, 4 0 1 0, Carter, p, 3 0 0 0, Frederick, 1b, 4 1 1 1, Lash, rf, 3 0 1 1, OBrian, 1 0 0 0, Wilson, 3b  Totals 35 2 10 2.

Wahlert  300 003 0 -   6  8  1
Prairie    000 200 0 -   2  10  2

Koppes and A. Dahl. Carter, Kuch(4) and Crist.  W – Koppes  L – Carter.  2B- Burds, Frederick.

Game 2

WAHLERT (4)
Rokusek, 3b, 4 0 0 0, Schmitt, 2b, 4 1 2 0, Nilles, ss, 4 0 0 0, A. Bahl, c, 4 2 2 0, Koppes, rf, 4 1 2 0, Burds, lf, 4 0 2 2, Tath, p, 4 0 2 2, Duve, cf, 3 0 0 0 , Rogers, 1b, 3 0 0 0   Totals  34 4 10 4.

PRAIRIE (1)
Crist, c, 3 0 0 0, Stecklein, 2b, 3 0 0 0, Carver, cf, 3 0 0 0, Wieland, ss, 3 1 2 0, Blaha, lf, 3 0 0 0, Lash, rf, 3 0 1 1, Baetsle, p, 3 0 1 0, Frederick, 1b, 2 0 0 0, OBrian, 3b, 2 0 0 0  Totals  25 1 4 1.

Wahlert  300 010 0 -  4  10  1
Prairie    000 000 1  -  1   4   2

Tath and A. Bahl.  Baetsle and Crist.   W – Tath   L – Baetsle.  2B- Burds, Lash  SB- Lash, Baetsle.