KISSIMMEE, Florida - The UW-Eau Claire women's softball team notched a pair of 8-0 triumphs to close out its week of competition in the Rebel Games with a 9-1 record.

The Blugolds beat Eastern Connecticut State and Bible Baptist College of Pennsylvania in games shortened to six innings by the 8-run rule. The twin wins extended the Blugolds' current win streak to seven and pushed their season record to 13-3.

The shutouts were the fourth and fifth in the current win streak, during which time the Blugolds have outscored their opponents, 41-2. Also for the fourth and fifth times in the last six games, the Blugolds rapped out 10 or more hits.

The Blugolds, ranked No. 16 in the NFCA preseason poll, scored in every inning but the second against Eastern Connecticut as they collected 13 hits. The Blugolds played errorless ball in the field and stole six bases, twice pulling off double steals to score runs.

Junior Mallory McKinney (Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) hurled her fourth consecutive shutout, scattering three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. She helped her own cause by hitting a solo home run and a single in four at bats. Casey Leisgang (So.-Seymour) and Mandy Tschernach (Jr.-Rice Lake) cracked three hits apiece. Rachel Paulus (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) drove in two runs and stole two bases while Steph Salter (Jr.-Schofield/D. C. Everest) had two hits and two stolen bases. Megan Ellenbecker (Fr.-Athens) rapped a triple.

Andrea Neuville (Sr.-Green Bay/West) picked up the mound decision in the win over Baptist Bible, yielding three hits in four innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Freshman Kristi Doucette (Green Bay/Ashwaubenon) saw her first action of the season, throwing two innings of shutout relief.

Paulus and Janke led the Blugolds offensively with three hits apiece. Paulus included a double and an RBI while Janke had two RBI. Shannon Barone (Jr.-De Pere) had a double among her two hits as the Blugolds banged out a total of 11.

The Blugolds are scheduled to make their home debut next weekend with a doubleheader against St. Norbert April 1 and a twin bill against the College of St. Scholastica April 2, both at Gelein Field in Carson Park.

Eau Claire-Baptist Bible College Box Score

Eau Claire-Eastern Connecticut Box Score

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