EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Behind the pitching and hitting of Jenny Ross (Fr. -Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley), the No. 25 UW-Eau Claire softball team took home a 2-0 win over UW-Oshkosh in the eighth game of the 2008 NCAA Division III Softball Regional Championship in Eau Claire on Gelein Field this evening.

Ross not only pitched the entire game, not giving up a run, but also hit the Blugolds' eventual game winning home run. In the bottom of the second, Ross led off and drove one deep to center field to give Eau Claire the 1-0 advantage. She was also credited with the win to improve her season mark to 21-2. Ross faced 23 batters, striking out six and giving up three hits.

The only other scoring came when Casey Leisgang (Sr.-Seymour, Wis.) drove another one out of the park. Like Ross, Leisgang led off in the bottom of the sixth when she hit her ninth home run of the season. Leisgang, who came into the season as the Blugolds' all-time career home run leader, now has 36 home runs in her time at Eau Claire.

Oshkosh did accumulate more hits than Eau Claire, ripping three to the Blugolds' two. Amie Heinzelman, Aerial Spang and Kayla Kodet all picked up hits for the Titans. Leisgang and Ross were the only Blugolds to get hits tonight.

Oshkosh's Ronessa Stampfli (17-4) pitched five innings, striking out seven batters as she faced 18. She gave up both home runs before being relieved by Amy Sullivan, who threw to the final three Eau Claire batters.

Saturday the Blugolds will take on St. Thomas, a team that is ranked third nationally and has won 27 straight contests. The game will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday. Oshkosh will face Illinois Wesleyan Saturday at noon.

Eau Claire-Oshkosh Box Score

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