ROSEMOUNT, MN. - The 16th-ranked UW-Eau Claire softball team began its 2006 season tonight by taking both games of a doubleheader against Buena Vista, winning game one, 3-0, and winning game two, 5-1, at the Rosemount Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, MN.

The two-time regular season defending Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) champions cruised to a 3-0 shut out victory in game one. Junior Mallory McKinney (Jr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) pitched a complete game three-hitter, while striking out 12 to pick up the win.

The Blugold offense was led by sophomore Casey Leisgang (So.-Seymour, WI) as she went 1-for-3 with a triple, a RBI, and one run scored. Steph Salter (Jr.-Schofield, WI/D.C. Everest) went 1-for-2 and scored a run and freshman Megan Ellenbecker (Fr.-Athens, WI) came in as a pinch-runner and scored the Blugolds third run. Shannon Barone (Jr.-De Pere, WI) went 1-for-3 and Jill Janke (So.-Black River Falls, WI) went 1-for-1 for the Blugolds.

In game two, the Blugolds once again took care of Buena Vista as they won 5-1. Senior Andrea Neuville (Sr.-Green Bay, WI/West) went four strong innings to pick up the victory. In the four innings, Neuville gave up three hits, struck out two, and gave up one earned run.

Freshman Bri Sturm (Fr.-Zumbrota, MN/Zumbrota-Mazeppa) came in the final three innings to pick up the save. Sturm struck out seven and gave up just two hits.

The Blugold offense was once again led by Casey Leisgang, as she went 2-for-4 with a double, and a home run. She also had three RBI's and scored a run. Mandy Tschernach (Jr.-Rice Lake, WI) went 2-for-3 with a triple and one RBI. Amber Haack (Jr.-Madison, WI/La Follette) went 2-for-4 and she scored a run and Rachel Paulus (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Lincoln) went 2-for-3 for the Blugolds in the victory

The Blugolds will play their second of three doubleheaders at the Rosemount Irish Sports Dome when they will face the two-time defending Division III national champion University of St. Thomas tomorrow with the first game scheduled for 4 p.m.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

- JR -