FOND DU LAC, Wis. (April 25, 2005) – The Edgewood College softball team won both games of a doubleheader at Marian College on Monday, 1-0 and 6-5. With the sweep, the Eagles (22-12, 11-1 LMC) claimed at least a share of the Lake Michigan Conference regular season championship. It marks the third time Edgewood has won the LMC championship and the first time since 1996.
Starting pitcher Brittany Butcher (St. Charles, Ill.) earned the victory in game one by hurling a six-hit shutout over the defending league champs and 2005 preseason favorites. The Eagles broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning when pinch runner Jessica Courchaine (Marathon, Wis.) scored on a failed pick off attempt at third base. A throw down to third from Marian’s catcher got by the Sabre third baseman, which resulted in the unearned run.
Fate was also on the Eagles’ side in game two, as the Marian defense committed a season-high seven errors. Edgewood jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the first inning. The Eagles three runs came via two hits -- including a leadoff double by Jessica Stephens (St. Charles, Ill.) – and three Sabre miscues.
Marian (24-10, 10-4 LMC) retaliated to make it a one-run ball game in the top of the fourth on a two-run home run by Amanda Nickel. However, the Eagles quickly got the two runs back to make it 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth thanks to another Sabre error and an RBI single by Katie Hensgen (Waunakee, Wis.) that scored Nichole Johnson (Waunakee, Wis.).
The two teams then traded runs with Edgewood holding a 6-4 lead going into the top of the seventh frame. Erin Minger’s single drove in Nicole Nelson to get the Sabres within one. But with the tying run on first base, Edgewood pitcher Amy Bahler (Monroe, Wis.) ended the Marian rally by striking out perennial All-LMC catcher Bobbi Jo Merten for the final out of the game.
Bahler allowed 11 hits and five earned runs, including six strikeouts. Offensively, Edgewood was led by Stephens and Johnson, who each collected two hits and scored a pair of runs. Hensgen finished 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Edgewood can claim the LMC championship outright by at least splitting a doubleheader with Concordia University (14-14, 9-3 LMC) this Thursday, April 28. The games are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at McGaw Park in Fitchburg. The date will also mark Edgewood College senior night where Eagle seniors Hensgen and Christine Kohlman (Prairie du Sac, Wis.) will be honored.
Prior to Thursday’s showdown, the Eagles will play host to Rockford College in a non-conference twinbill at McGaw Park in Fitchburg also scheduled for a 4 p.m. start.
