TUCSON, Az. - The UW-Eau Claire women's softball team played its first game today at the 2008 Tucson Invitational Games but came up short, falling to North Central College (Ill.) 8-4 at Lincoln Regional Park.

The Blugolds fall to 4-3 on the season. After opening the season with four wins, the Blugolds have now dropped three consecutive games.

Eau Claire was first to get on the board, with Casey Leisgang (Sr.-Seymour, Wis.) scoring an unearned run in the top of the first. Unfortunately the Blugolds would be unable to bring anyone else home in the inning, leaving three stranded on base.

North Central then took the lead in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs on three hits. By the bottom of the second North Central was able to push its lead to two, scoring an unearned run with only one out. The Blugolds were then able to get out of the inning, putting out the next two batters.

The Blugolds fought their way back into the game, scoring a run in the third and then going ahead in the fourth. With two runners on, a Leisgang single to left field allowed Katie Stalker (So.-Madison, Wis./La Follette) to score the game-tying run. Two batters later, with only one out, another single to left field by Jill Janke (Sr.-Black River Falls, Wis.) sent Sara Baumgartner (Fr.-Arcadia, Wis.) home for the go-ahead run. The Blugolds lead was short-lived, however, as North Central picked up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 6-4. The Blugolds would be unable to score the rest of the way, while North Central pushed their lead to four with two more runs in the fifth.

While the Blugolds used three pitchers, Kristi Doucette (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) was credited with the loss, making her season record 1-2. She threw three innings and faced 13 batters, allowing six hits and four runs. Jenny Ross (Fr.-Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley) started the game in the circle but only stayed there for the first inning after giving up two runs. Pitching in the fifth and sixth innings was Bri Sturm (Jr.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa), but she also gave up two runs. She was able to pick up the Blugolds only strikeout for the day in the bottom of the sixth.

Leisgang led the Blugolds in hitting, accumulating three hits on four appearances at the plate. Michelle Butkus (Sr.-Medford, Wis.) also batted four times and tallied two hits. Leisgang and Butkus each scored a run. Janke led the team with seven putouts, while Leisgang had four assists.

Up next the Blugolds will face Nazareth College (N.Y.) at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by another game at 9:30 p.m. against Eastern Connecticut.

Eau Claire-North Central Box Score

- KM -