Softball 3/23/06 -- Wisconsin-Eau Claire 5, Augsburg 1; Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) 8, Augsburg 0 (5 inn.)

WISCONSIN-EAU CLAIRE BOXSCORE
PACIFIC LUTHERAN BOXSCORE


KISSIMMEE, Fla. (3/23/06) -- The Augsburg College softball team closed its week of games at the Rebel Spring Games tournament on Thursday, falling 5-1 to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and 8-0 to Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) in a game ended after five innings due to the NCAA eight-run rule at the Osceola County Sports Complex. Augsburg is now 5-9 on the season.

The Auggies had eight hits against Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the No. 16-ranked team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III preseason national poll, but stranded 10 runners on base in the game. Augsburg's lone run came in the first inning, as a Sarah Green (Fr., Winnebago, Minn./Blue Earth Area HS) base hit plated Jacci Mattern (Fr., Lakeville, Minn.).

But Wisconsin-Eau Claire took over the game in the late innings, using 15 hits and scoring twice in the fourth innning, once in the sixth inning and twice in the seventh. Rachel Paulus went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Amber Haack went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Augsburg used three pitchers in the game, with Shelley Harris (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest HS) and Green striking out two each and Kati Tweeten (Jr., Spring Grove, Minn.) also pitching in relief.

Andrea Neuville pitched the first two innings for the Blugolds, striking out two, with Bri Sturm pitching five innings of relief to claim the win, striking out five.

Against Pacific Lutheran, the Lutes scored once in the fourth and seven times in the fifth to end the game early, breaking open what had been a scoreless duel early. Pacific Lutheran pitcher Candace Howard struck out six and allowed just two hits in the game to earn the win. Theresa Tauscher led the way for the Lutes at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored.

Augsburg's lone hits in the game came from Tiffany Magnuson (Fr., Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame Academy HS) and Green. Harris pitched four innings for the Auggies, with Green pitching in relief.

Augsburg opens Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play next Wednesday (3/29) with a 3 p.m. doubleheader at defending Division III national champion St. Thomas.