Issued: March 16, 2003

SOFTBALLERS DROP SEASON OPENERS

ORANGE, Calif. - The UW-Eau Claire softball team opened up their season with losses to Menlo College of California and St. Mary's University of Minnesota at the rain-shortened Sun West Tournament.

The Blugolds were only able to muster two hits in losing to Menlo College 2-0. Kim Czapla (Sr.-Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) took the loss despite striking out nine.

Andrea Neuville (Fr.-Green Bay/West) made an impressive debut against St. Mary's allowing no earned runs while striking out the first two batters she faced looking. But an error from Brenda Westermann (Sr.-Minnetonka, MN) in the first inning allowed the Cardinals to score four unanswered runs.

Eau Claire was unable to rebound from the error and lost 4-3. Gerilyn Berens (Jr.-Bloomington, MN/John F. Kennedy), Danielle Moon (Fr.-Lake Crystal, MN/Lake Crystal Welcomme Memorial) and Amanda Freidel (Fr.-Tomahawk) each knocked in a run.

The Blugolds will play Babson College of Massachusetts tomorrow at 10:45 a.m. and Dana College of Nebraska at 3:30 p.m.

Sun West Tournament Results