Issued: March 31, 2003

SOFTBALL DROPS A PAIR TO WINONA STATE

WINONA, Minn. - The UW-Eau Claire softball team dropped both ends of a double header to Winona State by scores of 12-3 and 5-2 here today at Maxwell Field.

The Blugolds drop to 3-10 with the losses while Winona State continues its strong campaign as its record moves to 14-4-1 for the season.

Game one of the double dip saw the Warriors from Winona score seven runs in the first inning behind three doubles, a single, and two Blugold errors. The game remained at 7-0 until Eau Claire mounted a rally in the top of the fifth as they scored three runs. Laura Brackey (Fr-Oakdale, MN/Tartan) led off the inning with a single to left center field. Two batters later, Megan Richardson (So-Wisconsin Rapids/Assumption) scored Brackey with an RBI bunt. Richardson stole second, putting runners on second and third and after a pair of Blugold outs, Emilee Planert (Jr-Eau Claire/North) knocked a two-RBI single to right center to pull the Blugolds within four.

Eau Claire held the Warriors scoreless in the bottom of the inning but was unable to continue the comeback in the top of the sixth. Winona tacked on five runs in the bottom of the sixth behind the strength of an Erin Haase three-run home run to end the game via eight-run rule after six innings.

Eau Claire pitcher Kim Czapla (Sr-Arlington Heights, IL/Buffalo Grove) got the loss while Warrior Elissa Wisniewski improved to 9-0 on the season with the victory. Eau Claire ended the game with three runs on five hits and three errors while Winona finished with 12 runs on 11 hits and three errors.

The nightcap proved to be lower scoring than the first affair with the Blugolds jumping to the early lead. Eau Claire scored one run in the first inning as Planert doubled to right center to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on a Jannah Grinnell (Sr-Delano) sacrifice bunt. The Warriors knotted the game up at one in the bottom of the first but the Blugolds regained a one run lead in the third when Planert again led off the inning with a hit, this time a single back through the box. The 2002 All-Conference first team member stole second base and scored on a Rhianna Jacobs (Fr-Austin, MN) RBI single to take a 2-1 lead. Winona responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs and tacked on another run in the sixth while holding the Blugolds scoreless to take the 5-2 victory.

Andrea Neuville (Fr-Green Bay/West) suffered the loss, surrendering only three earned runs in six innings while allowing nine hits. Stephanie Fritch earned the victory for the Warriors allowing two runs on six hits in a complete game performance. The Blugolds committed just one error during the contest while the Warriors played without a technical miscue.

The Blugolds begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action this Thursday when they travel to La Crosse to battle the 9-4 Eagles in a double header beginning at 3:00 p.m. The Eagles face Viterbo College in a double header on Tuesday.

Game 1 Full Results

Game 2 Full Results