FITCHBURG Wis. (April 19, 2005) – The Edgewood College softball team remained tied for first place in the Lake Michigan Conference with a doubleheader sweep over Maranatha Baptist on Tuesday. The Eagles (18-10, 9-1 LMC) defeated MBBC by scores of 13-1 and 11-2, respectively, from McGaw Park. Edgewood has now won 10 straight games and is 14-2 in the month of April.

Both games of Tuesday’s twinbill were shortened by the eight-run rule. The Eagles pounded out a season-high 15 hits in each game, as Edgewood raised its team batting average by nearly 20 points. Jennifer Stephens (St. Charles, Ill.) led the Eagles offensively by going a combined 6-for-9 at the plate with six runs scored, two RBI, and four stolen bases. Noelle Wimer (Dodgeville, Wis.) and Jennifer Ley (Mineral Point, Wis.) both slugged home runs.

Edgewood blew game one wide open with eight runs in the bottom of the third inning and also took full advantage of six Crusader errors. Eagle pitcher Brittany Butcher (St. Charles, Ill.) gave up one hit in three innings of work. Butcher was relieved by Kristen Borre (Beloit, Wis.), who surrendered two hits in the final two frames.

Maranatha Baptist took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning of game two. Edgewood retaliated with a five-run third inning and never looked back. Starting pitcher Amy Bahler (Monroe, Wis.) picked up the win. Bahler allowed three hits and two earned runs while striking out four. Jessica Courchaine (Marathon, Wis.) held the lead after she gave up just two hits in three innings and struck out five.

At the plate, Bahler helped her own cause by going 3-for-4 in game two with two runs scored and two RBI. Christine Kohlman (Prairie du Sac, Wis.) also garnered a season-high three base hits in the victory.

Edgewood will attempt to keep its win streak alive on Wednesday, April 20 when the Eagles host Dominican University, a provisional member of the LMC. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader at McGaw Park beginning at 4 p.m.

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