It has been quite the week for the River Falls softball team.

Less than 24 hours after River Falls knocked off Ellsworth 8-5 in a non-conference clash on Monday afternoon, which delivered the Panthers their only loss this year (8-1), the Wildcats won their first Big Rivers Conference game in dramatic fashion against Menomonie on April 18.

The Wildcats and Mustangs had played to a 3-3 draw going into the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s BRC battle in River Falls. Junior Jordan Torrez began the inning with a base hit to center field which brought Jordan Schwantz to the plate.

That’s when the power-hitting junior blasted a two-run walk-off home run into the cheap seats in straightaway center field. Schwantz’s massive swing lifted River Falls to a 5-3 win, its first conference victory of the season (1-2) and fourth consecutive overall (4-2).

For River Falls’ first-year head coach Matt Smith, Schwantz’s home run was a continuation of the success she has had at the plate all season.

“She’s been hitting the ball well all season,” Smith said. “She’s a phenomenal player and you want those players in that situation, and she’s earned that spot to be there. She got a good pitch and put a good swing on it. I’m proud of her.”

Schwantz unquestionably delivered in the bottom of the seventh inning with her bat, but her glove was just as important in the top of the inning defensively.

Menomonie’s leadoff batter singled to left in the top of the seventh with the game tied 3-3. After a steal and a fielder’s choice, the Mustangs’ go-ahead run stood on third base with just one out.

The ensuing batter, sophomore Siera Auth, hit a screaming line drive to shortstop. That’s when Schwantz made a SportsCenter-worthy diving grab that retired Auth and held the go-ahead run at third base. Menomonie’s next batter grounded out, which stranded the runner and ended the inning.

“Her presence at shortstop is a difference-maker,” Smith said. “It’s like that adage, how many times does someone make a great play in the field and then come up that next inning and deliver at the plate? I think what she did today speaks for that. She’s a great athlete that knows when it’s winning time, and that’s when she clutches up.”

Schwantz wasn’t the only Wildcat that delivered in winning time. River Falls senior pitcher Ali Laube allowed just three runs in her complete-game victory on Tuesday. Although she only struck out three, Laube regularly induced weak contact that generated easy ground balls and flyouts.

“When we talk about Ali and all of our pitchers, we’ve got to pitch to contact and let our defense work,” Smith said. “We know we’re not going to strike a lot of teams out, and we’re OK with that. Tip of the hat to Ali for going out and throwing strikes and trusting our defense.”

Schwantz led all players with a game-high three-RBI evening. The aforementioned Torrez had one RBI with a solo home run in the bottom of the first and freshman Morgan Kivel drove in a run when she singled in the second inning.

With the win, River Falls secured its first Big Rivers Conference victory of the season and its fourth consecutive overall. The Wildcats, now 4-2 overall, haven’t lost since the season-opening series against the rival Hudson Raiders.

The four-game heater includes wins against Boyceville, Saint Croix Central, Menomonie and Ellsworth, which is currently the No. 2-ranked team in Division 2 softball, according to the first Wissports.com coaches’ poll of the 2023 season.

“We’re doing things well and we’re trusting and believing in what we’re doing,” Smith said. “It’s a great group of girls, they work hard, they do what is asked of them and they understand it’s about the team. I’m proud of them for their efforts and we hope to keep playing well.”

River Falls’ recent four-game stretch put the Wildcats above .500 for the first time since they defeated Osceola 4-2 on Opening Day in 2019. Coach Smith quickly deflected praise and instead credited previous head coach Chantele Dulas and her staff for the ball players on the roster.

“There was a great foundation laid by the prior coaching staff,” Smith said. “Chantele (Dulas) had these girls ready. There are some tremendous ball players here that her coaching staff developed. We came into a fortunate situation in that regard.”

River Falls will look to extend its winning streak to five games when the Wildcats go on the road to face Rice Lake on Tuesday, April 25. The first for that contest is slated for 4:30 p.m.