Issued: March 28, 2003

SOFTBALL WINS, RAINED OUT AT COE CLASSIC

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The UW-Eau Claire softball team defeated Gustavus Adolphus College 6-4 and was rained out against Coe College here today in the last day of the three-day Coe College Classic held at the Hitters Sports Park Softball Complex.

The Blugolds improve to 4-5 on the season while the Golden Gusties fall to 2-8.

Eau Claire starting pitcher Andrea Neuville (So.-Green Bay/West) pitched four scoreless inning and benefited from three first-inning runs. With the bases full of Blugolds and one out, Mallory McKinney (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) hit a two-RBI single to give Eau Claire a 2-0 lead. Beth Steward (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) followed with a sacrifice fly to make the lead 3-0.

Steph Farenbaugh (So.-Brownton, MN/McLeod West) hit an RBI double in the top of the fourth and the Blugolds added an unearned run in the fifth to take a five run advantage.

The Gusties made a furious comeback in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on relief pitcher Molly Johnson (So.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln). Sara Medved hit a two-run home run with two runs already in to pull the Gusties within a run but McKinney relieved Johnson in the circle and stuck out Kristin Kunz to end the threat.

The Blugolds got an insurance run in the top of the sixth via an RBI groundout by Molly Blakewell (Jr.-Eau Claire/North) and McKinney pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh innings for the save.

Neuville earned the win, allowing four hits in four innings while walking nobody and striking out five. Molly Biehn took the loss for Gustavus, allowing six runs, three earned, on ten hits and seven innings.

Emilee Planert (Sr.-Eau Claire/North) was a perfect four-for-four at the plate with two runs scored.

Eau Claire's second game of the day was rained out. The rain cancelled the last six games of the Coe Classic. The Blugolds will be back in action on Tuesday when they host UW-River Falls for the Eau Claire home and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener. The game is set for 4:00 p.m. at Gelein Field in Carson Park.

Eau Claire-Gustavus Box Score

Coe College Classic web site