TUCSON, Ariz. - The UW-Eau Claire softball team recorded two more wins today on the fourth day of its spring break trip at the Tucson Invitational Games.

The Blugolds kicked off the day with an 8-2 win over Schreiner University (Texas) and then defeated Augsburg College (Minn.) 11-2 in the next game. The Blugolds have now won seven straight and improve to 7-1 on the season.

Against Schreiner, the Blugolds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first frame. Katie Stalker (Jr.-Madison, Wis./LaFollette) began the game with a walk. After a ground out and strike out, Stalker advanced to second with a steal and Sara Baumgarter (So.-Arcadia, Wis.) reached on an error, allowing Stalker to score.

Neither team would score until Eau Claire posted five runs in the third and fourth innings to take a commanding 6-0 lead. In the third, Aleisha Harper (Fr.-Mondovi, Wis./Eau Claire North) and Kristi Doucette (Sr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) reached base on back-to-back singles. After a fielder's choice by Bekki Kidnie (Jr.-St. Paul, Minn./Johnson) loaded the bases, Tamara Zeman (Jr.-Lodi, Wis.) would drive in all three runners with a double to right center.

The two runs scored in the fourth inning were manufactured with two outs. Stalker reached on a walk, followed by a fielder's choice from Harper and a Doucette walk, loading the bases. A triple steal allowed Stalker to score from third, and Kidnie drove in Harper from third to end the inning.

Schreiner would threaten in the sixth with two runs, but the Blugolds promptly answered with to runs of their own to end the scoring at 8-2.

Jenny Ross (So.-Mendota Heights, Minn./Henry Sibley) moved to 4-0, pitching five scoreless innings and giving up just two hits while striking out six.

In the night cap against Augsburg, an explosive five-run second inning catapulted Eau Claire to its seventh straight win. Jess Freagon (Fr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) led off the inning with a single. Ross followed, reaching base on a fielder's choice. After a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, Betsy Kettinger (Sr.-Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) singled to center scoring Freagon. With the bases loaded, Kaity Acker (So.-Cross Plains, Wis./Middleton) blasted a bases-clearing triple to right center. The scoring would end in the inning as Zeman came up two batters later to drive in Acker.

The Blugolds scored six more runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Four runs on four hits gave Eau Claire a 9-0 lead, and two more runs completed the scoring for Eau Claire. Augsburg posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth, but it wasn't enough as the game ending due to the mercy rule.

Ashley Meinen (Fr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) picked up her second win of the year, pitching four scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out three.

Tomorrow the Blugolds will take on Pomona-Pitzer College (Calif.) at 3:30 p.m. and will finish off the day with a game at 5:30 p.m. against Denison University (Ohio).

Eau Claire-Schreiner Box Score

Eau Claire-Augsburg Box Score

- KM -