KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The UW-Eau Claire softball pitching staff allowed only two runs and seven hits over 16 innings in defeating Concordia College (MN) 4-2 and William and Jefferson College (PA) 3-0 here today at the Rebel Spring Games.

The Blugolds opened the day with a pitching dual against Concordia. The game went the regulation seven innings scoreless to force extra innings. Amber Haack (So.-Madison/LaFollette) knocked in the first run of the game in the top of the eighth with a suicide squeeze bunt. Concordia countered with a single run of its own in the bottom half.

The Eau Claire offense came alive in the ninth scoring three runs in the top half. Rachel Paulus (So.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) doubled in Casey Leisgang (Fr.-Seymour) for the first run of the inning. After a Jill Janke (Fr.-Black River Falls) bunt single, starting pitcher Mallory McKinney (So.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) helped her own cause with a two-run single to give the Blugolds a 4-1 lead. Concordia added a run in the bottom of the ninth but could muster no more against McKinney.

McKinney pitched all nine innings giving up only one earned run on five hits. McKinney struck out a career-high 14 batters while only walking two.

The Blugolds continued their pitching dominance against William and Jefferson allowing no runs on only two hits. Andrea Neuville (Jr.-Green Bay/West) earned the win allowing only one hit over five innings while striking out six. Molly Johnson (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) earned the save going two innings while only allowing one hit.

Eau Claire got the scoring out of the way early scoring all three of its runs in the first inning. Shannon Barone (So.-DePere) knocked in Steph Farenbaugh (Jr.-Brownton, MN/McLeod West) with a suicide squeeze for the first run. Laura Brackey (Jr.-Oakdale, MN/Tartan) knocked in the next run with an RBI groundout and Terisa Syvertsen (Jr.-Woodbury, MN) concluded the scoring with a double scoring Barone.

Tessa Pecha (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) went 2 for 2 with a run scored while Janke went 2 for 3.

The Blugolds improve to 10-3 on the year with the wins.

Eau Claire concludes the spring break trip with games against DePauw University (IN) and Fontbonne University (MO). The Blugolds play DePauw at 8:50 a.m. and Fontbonne at 10:40 a.m.

- JL -