#3 UW-Eau Claire 2, #1 Louisiana College 1

The Blugolds Come from Behind for the Win

May 18, 2008

 

SALEM, Va. --- UW-Eau Claire went scoreless for four innings but posted enough runs to defeat Louisiana College today in the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

 

UW-Eau Claire trailed Louisiana College 1-0 going into the fifth inning but the Blugolds found their offense and were able to post three hits and two runs on the inning.  The first Blugold score came after Sara Baumgartner took advantage of a Louisiana College wild pitch and slid into home plate.  Then Casey Leisgang gave the Blugolds a permanent 2-1 lead after she sent a single to right center, allowing for teammate Katie Stalker to cross home plate.

 

"Looking at the big picture, each person is a small piece of this puzzle when it comes down to this team," said Leisgang.  "I think the focus come from that we all know that each person on this squad just needs to contribute in anyway possible for us to be successful.  It took us awhile to figure it out during the regular season and now we are all finally at that point where everyone knows, eyes on the prize.  Bottom line, we are ready to get it!"

 

Jenny Ross picked up her twenty-sixth win on the season after pitching all seven innings and giving up five hits and just one run.

 

Louisiana College's registered five hits, but only yielded one run which came in the fourth frame off of Aimee Dubroc's homerun over the right field fence.

 

Rene' Schwartzenburg pitched the entire game for the Lady Wildcats and permitted six hits and two runs.

 

"It was a good game with great defensive plays on both sides of the ball and it was a good softball game to watch," said head Louisiana College coach, Tim Whittman.  "We just came up a little short at the end."

 

UW-Eau Claire (35-11) will take the field again Monday at 2:30 p.m. against the winner of the #5 UW-Whitewater and #1 Louisiana College game.  Louisiana College (44-6) returns to action in Game 13 on Monday at Noon and will face #5 UW-Whitewater.