MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Alverno College softball team picked up its first wins of the 2026 season on Tuesday afternoon, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader against Maranatha Baptist at Alverno Softball Field. The Inferno rolled to a 16-1 victory in game one before completing the sweep with a 12-1 win in game two.

Alverno's offense came alive across both contests, combining for 28 runs while showing patience at the plate and capitalizing on opportunities throughout the day. Multiple players contributed in both games, as the Inferno earned their first victories of the season convincingly. While earning plenty of wins in his time as a high school coach in the Milwaukee area, the wins over Maranatha Baptist were the first of Shawn Grimm's collegiate coaching career on Tuesday afternoon.

Sophomore Gianna Medrano (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge) drove in five runs across both games, tallying two hits, while fellow sophomore Nadya Hudson (Milwaukee, Wis./Wauwatosa East) drove in four runs in the game one win. Senior Hailie Eschbach (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) drove in four runs and had two hits in the pair of wins for the Inferno.

Alverno improves to 2-16 on the year, while Maranatha Baptist falls to 0-10.

Game One: Alverno 16, Maranatha Baptist 1 (5 innings)
The Inferno erupted early and often in the opener, plating 16 runs on just three hits while drawing 14 walks and taking advantage of multiple hit-by-pitches in a dominant run-rule victory.

Hudson led the way offensively, driving in four runs, including a bases-clearing double in the second inning, and recording three walks and two runs scored. Eschbach added two RBI, while Medrano and senior Kate Peabody (Sycamore, Ill/Sycamore) each drove in multiple runs as the lineup consistently applied pressure.

After surrendering an unearned run in the first inning, Alverno responded immediately with three runs in the bottom half, then broke the game open with a 10-run second inning. The 10-run second inning was highlighted by Hudson's three-run double, which helped break the game open.

Junior Alyssa Hubli(Kenosha, Wis./St. Joseph Catholic Academy) and senior Giselle Moreno (Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech) each scored three times and reached base multiple times, helping fuel the offensive outburst.

In the circle, sophomore Cece Ehni (Snohomish, Wash./Monroe) earned the first win of her collegiate career, tossing four innings while allowing just one unearned run on four hits. Sophomore Riley Krider (Cromwell, Ind./West Noble) closed out the game with a scoreless fifth inning.

Sarah Strauch took the loss in the circle for Maranatha while four players each had hits for the Sabercat offense. Emma Warren drove in the lone run with an RBI sacrifice fly.

Game Two: Alverno 12, Maranatha Baptist 1 (5 innings)
Alverno carried its momentum into game two, scoring eight runs in the first inning to quickly seize control and secure the doubleheader sweep.

Medrano paced the offense with three RBI, while Moreno drove in two runs, and Hailie Eschbach added a pair of RBI. Hudson scored two runs and walked three times as she reached base in all seven plate appearances in the doubleheader. Peabody also had an RBI single, while Hubli registered an RBI as well.

Medrano delivered the key hit in the first inning, scoring two runs with an RBI single, and later singled in another run in the second. Peabody singled in a run in the second inning as well, while Eschbach singled in the final run of the game in the fourth.

Krider delivered a strong performance in the circle, earning the win with a complete game effort. She allowed just one run on one hit while striking out six over five innings of work.

Louise Harris took the loss in the circle for Maranatha but did register the lone hit, an RBI single that scored Lindsay Mikkelson.