University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Athletics

Issued: April 10, 2003

SOFTBALL SLAMS DOOR SHUT ON RIVER FALLS

RIVER FALLS - Allowing eight hits and one unearned run in 14 innings, the UW-Eau Claire softball team posted a sweep of UW-River Falls by scores of 2-0 and 4-1 here today at Ramer Field.

The wins move the Blugolds to 9-12 overall and 3-1 in WIAC play while the Falcons fall to 9-11 and 0-2.

In game one Jannah Grinnell (Sr.-Delano, MN) gave the Blugolds all the offense they needed when she ripped a two-out two-run home run over the left centerfield fence to provide the only scoring of the game. Grinnell drove in Laura Brackey (Fr.-Oakdale, MN/Tartan) who reached base on a one-out single to right field.

Kim Czapla (Sr.-Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) won her fifth game of the season pitching seven innings of shutout ball allowing three hits while striking out five batters without surrendering a walk.

Grinnell made her presence felt early in game two as she lined a two-out RBI single to right field to score Jane Taragos (Sr.-Wayzata, MN) to post a 1-0 lead at the end of one inning. Taragos reached base on a two-out double to left center field.

The Blugolds took advantage of several Falcon miscues to score two runs in the top of the fourth inning. With runners on first and second reached base via a throwing error and being hit by a pitch, Gerilyn Berens (So.-Bloomington, MN/John F. Kennedy) reached base on an error by the Falcon left fielder scoring both Blugold baserunners.

Ahead 3-1 the Blugolds added an insurance run when Taragos hit a solo home run over the left field fence in the fifth inning.

Andrea Neuville (Fr.-Green Bay/West) won her second game of the season going the distance allowing five hits and one unearned run while striking out four and walking one.

On the day Grinnell went 3-for-7 with three RBI's including a two-run homer and one run. Taragos also went 3-for-7 with two runs and one RBI coming off a solo blast.

On Saturday the Blugolds travel to Stevens Point to play in the first WIAC Cluster Tournament of the season opening up versus UW-Platteville at 4:00 PM.