De La Torre Cruz Hits Two Homers: Edwardsville Tigers Dominate Freeburg With 16-1 Softball Victory

EDWARDSVILLE - Audrey De La Torre Crux had three hits, including two home runs, and drove in six runs, while Remi Werden had two hits, including a solo home run, as Edwardsville scored seven times in the second, and five more times in the fourth to take a big 16-1 win over Freeburg in a softball game payed Wednesday afternoon, March 18, 2026, at the Edwardsville District 7 Sports Complex.

The Tigers returned home after a 2-2 trip to a tournament over the weekend in Hendersonville, Tenn., where they won their first two games of the season during the tournament.

After the Midgets got on the board in the top of the first inning, courtesy of an RBI single by Kylie Whitten, the Tigers scored twice in their half, thanks to a two-run homer by De La Torre Cruz.

The Tigers then exploded for seven runs in the second inning, as Maksine Straub singled home, Maggie Bray, then scored on an error off a single by Werden, with Werden going to third, a Sophie Antonini sacrifice fly that scored Werden, advancing Brooke Burris, another sacrifice fly, this to center by Lily Stone that scored Burris and sent De La Torre Cruz to third. Then, a Bryar Ellinger RBI single scored De La Torre Cruz, and two runs scored on an error by the shortstop.

In the third, Werden connected for an inside-the-park homer to center to make it 10-1, Burns reached on an error, De La Torre Cruz singled home Burns to make it 11-1, and in the fourth, Savanna Lewis singled with one out, went to second on an error, Emily Grandone walked, Kaitlyn Hatfield singled to load the bases, Lily Maxwell doubled home two runs, and De La Torre Cruz hit a three-run homer over the center field fence to end the game in favor of Edwardsville 16-1.

In addition to De La Torre Cruz and Werden, Maxwell had a hit and two RBIs, Ellinger had a hit and an RBI, Burns, Bray, Lewis, Straub, and Hatfield all had hits, and Antonini drove in a run. Makenna Pippins went three innings in the circle and gained the win, giving up an earned run on a hit, walking two, and striking out two, while Sammie Herbeck pitched in the fourth, and only allowed a hit, while walking nine and fanning none.

The Tigers go to 3-2, and are at Breese Central on Friday at 4:30 p.m., then host Red Bud Saturday at 11 a.m., and host Gillespie Monday at 4:30 p.m.

The Midgets are now 2-2, and are at Chester on Thursday at 4:30 p.m., then go to Triad Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., then host Highland Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Dan Brannan also contributed to this story.

More like this:

Stone Hits Three-Run Homer, Pippins Allows One Run On Four Hits, Tigers Score Eight In Second Inning, Defeats Granite City 11-1

Apr 3, 2026

De La Torre Cruz Comes Up With Three Hits, Four RBIs, Pippins, Herbeck Pitch Well, Tigers End Home Stand With 10-0 Win

Apr 11, 2026

Fox Tosses One-Hitter, Fans Six, While De La Torre Cruz Hits First Inning Grand Slam, Drives In Six, In Shutout of Redbirds

Apr 8, 2026

De La Torre Cruz Has Two Hits, Two RBIs, Fox Pitches Five Strong Innings,  Fans Six, Tigers Post 5-1 Win Over Maroons

Mar 27, 2026

Edwardsville Girls Softball Squad Blanks Collinsville 15-0

Apr 1, 2026