NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College softball team opened the conference portion of its schedule with a doubleheader split against UW-Superior in this week's UMAC Game of the Week. The Knights won game one 4-3 in eight innings, but lost game two 4-1.

MLC 4, UWS 3 (8 innings)

The Knights overcame an early three-run deficit to win game one 4-3 in extra innings.

MLC starting pitcher Rebecca Pruss allowed three runs in the top of the first inning, but settled in from that point and didn't allow another run in four more innings of work.

Kelli Doell (3-2) pitched three scoreless innings in relief and earned the win, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out one.

The Knights took advantage of back-to-back errors to score its first two runs in the fourth, and tied the game when Megan Lemke scored from second base on a wild pitch in the fifth inning.

With the two teams tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Audrey Timm smashed a walk-off double to left center that scored Rebecca Doering from first base to win the game.

UWS 4, MLC 1

The Yellowjackets overcame a slow start to win game two 4-1 and secure the split.

Unlike game one, the Knights were the team that struggled on defense, as four MLC errors played a role in three of the Yellowjackets' four runs.

MLC pitcher Morgan Palubicki (2-4) took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) on 11 hits in 7.0 innings.

The Knights scored their only run thanks to a UWS miscue in the third inning. Doell finished with two of the team's five hits.

MLC moved to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in UMAC play following the split. UWS is now 8-9 on the season and 1-1 in league play.

The Knights will return to action on Wednesday, April 5, when they travel to Bethany Lutheran College for a doubleheader scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.