Issued: March 21, 2003

SOFTBALLERS SPLIT WITH PLATTSBURGH AND SAVANNAH

ORANGE, Calif. - The UW-Eau Claire softball team defeated Plattsburgh State 6-3 but fell to the Savannah College of Art and Design 9-1 here today at the Sun West Tournament.

In the opening game against Savannah the Bees scored six runs in the first two innings off Blugold starter Kim Czapla (Sr.-Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove). Eau Claire was able to push one run across on a fielder's choice in the second inning.

In the fifth inning Savannah scored three more runs when the game was called with two outs and two runners on.

Against Plattsburgh both teams were unable to score any runs in the first three innings. But the Blugolds exploded for five runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded Megan Richardson (So.-Wisconsin Rapids/Assumption) doubled scoring everybody. After a Breanna Westermann (Sr.-Minnetonka, MN) single Jannah Grinnell (Sr.-Delano) tripled to right center to score Richardson and Westermann.

Richardson knocked in another run in the fifth with a single down the left field line to score Rebecca Larsen (Fr.-Neillsville).

Molly Johnson (Fr.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) pitched a complete game five-hitter for the win. She allowed three runs with one of them being earned.

For the day Richardson was 5 for 6 with four RBIs and a run scored while Grinnell was 3 for 6 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The Blugolds will come home with a 3-9 record to play Winona State in Winona Sunday, March 30. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Sun West Tournament Results