Softball team begins title defense
Reigning national champions finish 9-3 in Ariz., will travel to St. Louis for tournament
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: Sports
The UW-Eau Claire softball team's title defense started last week with 12 games in Arizona over spring break. The reigning national champions played teams from around the nation at the neutral site in Tucson.
"(Playing in Arizona) is always a benefit especially because we have been in the gym for so long," junior Tamara Zeman said. "Being able to go and play in beautiful weather like that was exciting."
In the Blugolds' first game, a comeback attempt against the University of La Verne (Calif.) fell short, resulting in a 2-1 loss. The team quickly rebounded with a 7-2 victory over Central College (Iowa) later that day. The Blugolds then went on to win their next eight games by a combined score of 70-26.
"We let a couple games slip away - we should have gone 12-0 while we were there," Zeman said. "Some games we were up and couldn't finish and other times we let the other teams control the energy."
On the final day of the invitational, Eau Claire once again faced Central College as well as Denison University (Ohio). Against Central, Eau Claire scored the first four runs of the game and looked to be in good shape to win. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Blugolds gave up six runs on six hits and an error. In the top of the seventh inning Eau Claire had the bases loaded with one out, but was unable to score.
"It's good to know we still have control and that we can win the games, we're just not finishing," Zeman said. "We're a really young team - we started four or five freshmen for a lot of the games - so it will come with experience. I think we just need to work hard and finish."
The game against Denison also had a dramatic finish. The Blugolds fell behind early, giving up three runs in the top of the first. Eau Claire rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. After trading several runs as the game winded down, the Blugolds found themselves down four in the bottom of the seventh. After RBI singles from freshman Aleisha Harper, junior Ainsley Klar and sophomore Meghan O'Hearn, the Blugolds found themselves down by just one run with the bases loaded once again. Unfortunately, for the second time that day, Eau Claire was unable to drive home the tying run.
"We're definitely the highlight of most teams' schedules and because of that we need to take every single game as seriously as they do," Zeman said. "Every team is out to get us and we need to be out to get every team."
Junior Katie Stalker performed impressively over break, recording 20 hits in 40 at-bats, 17 runs and six stolen bases in seven attempts, all of which currently lead the team. Of the nine Eau Claire players that have recorded at least 20 at-bats, six of them have batting averages over .300 and four of those players have batting averages over .400. Zeman and freshman Nikki Bromelkamp lead the team in RBIs with 13 and 10, respectively.
The Blugolds will take their 9-3 record to St. Louis, Mo., this weekend where they will compete in the Washington University tournament. The Blugolds do not play in Eau Claire until Wednesday, April 1, when they host St. Norbert (Minn.) at Gelein Field.
"All of the opponents we play this week are ranked nationally," Zeman said. "Because we didn't really have that competition in Arizona, we will really see where we are at. We are going to need to bring our A game every single game."
Next home game:
Time: 3 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Place: Gelein Field
Opponent: St. Norbert (Minn.)
"(Playing in Arizona) is always a benefit especially because we have been in the gym for so long," junior Tamara Zeman said. "Being able to go and play in beautiful weather like that was exciting."
In the Blugolds' first game, a comeback attempt against the University of La Verne (Calif.) fell short, resulting in a 2-1 loss. The team quickly rebounded with a 7-2 victory over Central College (Iowa) later that day. The Blugolds then went on to win their next eight games by a combined score of 70-26.
"We let a couple games slip away - we should have gone 12-0 while we were there," Zeman said. "Some games we were up and couldn't finish and other times we let the other teams control the energy."
On the final day of the invitational, Eau Claire once again faced Central College as well as Denison University (Ohio). Against Central, Eau Claire scored the first four runs of the game and looked to be in good shape to win. Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Blugolds gave up six runs on six hits and an error. In the top of the seventh inning Eau Claire had the bases loaded with one out, but was unable to score.
"It's good to know we still have control and that we can win the games, we're just not finishing," Zeman said. "We're a really young team - we started four or five freshmen for a lot of the games - so it will come with experience. I think we just need to work hard and finish."
The game against Denison also had a dramatic finish. The Blugolds fell behind early, giving up three runs in the top of the first. Eau Claire rebounded with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. After trading several runs as the game winded down, the Blugolds found themselves down four in the bottom of the seventh. After RBI singles from freshman Aleisha Harper, junior Ainsley Klar and sophomore Meghan O'Hearn, the Blugolds found themselves down by just one run with the bases loaded once again. Unfortunately, for the second time that day, Eau Claire was unable to drive home the tying run.
"We're definitely the highlight of most teams' schedules and because of that we need to take every single game as seriously as they do," Zeman said. "Every team is out to get us and we need to be out to get every team."
Junior Katie Stalker performed impressively over break, recording 20 hits in 40 at-bats, 17 runs and six stolen bases in seven attempts, all of which currently lead the team. Of the nine Eau Claire players that have recorded at least 20 at-bats, six of them have batting averages over .300 and four of those players have batting averages over .400. Zeman and freshman Nikki Bromelkamp lead the team in RBIs with 13 and 10, respectively.
The Blugolds will take their 9-3 record to St. Louis, Mo., this weekend where they will compete in the Washington University tournament. The Blugolds do not play in Eau Claire until Wednesday, April 1, when they host St. Norbert (Minn.) at Gelein Field.
"All of the opponents we play this week are ranked nationally," Zeman said. "Because we didn't really have that competition in Arizona, we will really see where we are at. We are going to need to bring our A game every single game."
Next home game:
Time: 3 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Place: Gelein Field
Opponent: St. Norbert (Minn.)
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