DE PERE - The eighth-ranked UW-Eau Claire softball team pounded out 35 hits in 12 innings en route to 13-3 and 15-3 victories over St. Norbert here today in a doubleheader at Riverview Park.

The Blugolds improve to 16-3 on the season after a 2-2 start and run their current win streak to eight games. The Green Knights fall to 4-7-1 on the year.

Eau Claire wasted little time getting started, putting a run on the board in the top of the first inning of the first game via a Steph Farenbaugh (Jr.-Brownton, MN/McLeod West) RBI single. After the Green Knights tied the game in the bottom of the first, the Blugolds poured on four runs in the second to take a 5-1 lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, Tess Pecha (Fr.-Eau Claire/North) earned an RBI when she drew a walk. Farenbaugh followed with a three-run double to give her four RBI in two innings.

Eau Claire scored an unearned run in the third inning and then posted another four-run inning in the fourth. Jill Janke (Fr.-Black River Falls) ripped a two-run double and Mallory McKinney (So.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) and Molly Blakewell (Sr.-Eau Claire/North) each tallied RBIs in the inning.

Farenbaugh and Janke again provided the offensive firepower in a three-run fifth inning, as Janke lined a two-run double and Farenbaugh collected another RBI on a base hit to make the score 13-1. The Green Knights scored twice in the bottom of the fifth but it was not enough to overcome the ten-run rule and the Blugolds took the game in five innings.

McKinney earned the win for the Blugolds, allowing eight hits and three runs in five innings. She struck out five and walked just one. Farenbaugh finished the game 4-for-4 with a double, five RBI and two runs. Janke was 2-for-4 with two doubles, four RBI and a run scored while McKinney was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Casey Leisgang (Fr.-Seymour) was 4-for-4 at the top of the lineup with four runs scored.

The Blugolds picked up right where they left off in the nightcap, scoring two runs in the top of the first. Leisgang set the tone for the game with a leadoff home run and McKinney knocked an RBI single for a quick 2-0 lead. The Green Knights got to Blugold starter Andrea Neuville (Jr.-Green Bay/West) for two runs to tie the game in the bottom of the first and then added a run in the second for a 3-2 lead. Eau Claire finally got back in the scoring column in the fourth innings, piling on six runs for a 8-3 lead. All six runs in the inning were unearned after an error opened the inning. McKinney delivered a big two-run double in the inning.

The Blugolds tacked on another run in the fifth inning and then finished things off with six more runs in the seventh. Shannon Barone (So.-DePere) collected two RBI in the inning.

Neuville took the win, tossing five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits. McKinney was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored while Blakewell finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Farenbaugh was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored.

The Blugolds begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action this Wednesday when they head to River Falls for a 3:00 game against the Falcons.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

- DN -