EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Two nationally-ranked softball teams will go head to head when UW-Eau Claire hosts Luther College this afternoon at Carson Park.

The No. 7-ranked Blugolds will meet No. 13-ranked Luther in a twin bill beginning at 4 p.m. at Gelein Field. There is no charge for admission.

The Blugolds are currently 20-5 for the season after sweeping UW-Superior in a conference doubleheader Friday. Luther College is currently sporting a nine-game winning streak and leads the Iowa Conference after sweeping Cornell Saturday. The Norse are 22-2 for the season.

Eau Claire and Luther have had two common opponent this year. Both have split with nationally-ranked Central College of Iowa and both have faced Augsburg, the Blugolds winning a single game and Luther a doubleheader. Luther and Eau Claire have not met in softball since 2002 when Eau Claire won but the Norse still lead the all-time series, 5-2.

This is the start of a busy seven-day period in which the Blugolds will play five doubleheaders. Wednesday the Blugolds will host their final regular season doubleheader at Gelein Field as they will face St. Norbert College at 4 p.m.

Eau Claire will then travel to Duluth, Minn. for a doubleheader against St. Scholastica, Thursday at 3 p.m. and will follow that with a doubleheader at UW-Stevens Point at 2 p.m. Saturday and another at UW-Whitewater at noon Sunday.

Next week the Blugolds will wrap up the regular season with a 4 p.m. doubleheader at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minn. on April 23 and a conference doubleheader at UW-Oshkosh at noon on April 26.

- KM -