FITCHBURG, Wis. (May 3, 2005) – It took the Edgewood College softball team six innings to eliminate Maranatha Baptist Bible College from the 2005 Lake Michigan Conference Tournament, as the top-seeded Eagles (26-13) defeated No. 8 Maranatha (7-30) by a final score of 10-2 from McGaw Park.

Edgewood scored seven runs in the bottom of the second inning on four hits and three Crusader errors. Maranatha got two runs back in the bottom of the third inning, but that was all the Crusader offense would generate off of Eagle pitchers Brittany Butcher (St. Charles, Ill.) and Jessica Courchaine (Marathon, Wis.)

Both Edgewood pitchers hurled three innings each. Butcher allowed five hits and two runs, neither of which were earned. Courchaine, who also belted her first collegiate home run in the bottom of the fourth, held the Crusaders hitless during her time in the pitcher’s circle.

Offensively, Jessica Stephens (St. Charles, Ill.) paced the Eagles by going 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored, while Christine Kohlman (Prairie du Sac, Wis.) went a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs and another driven in.

With the win, Edgewood advances to the LMC Final Four held at the Milwaukee School of Engineering Athletic Field, May 6-7. The Eagles will open the double-elimination tournament at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 6 against the winner of No. 4 Wisconsin Lutheran College and No. 5 Alverno College.

The LMC Tournament champion receives the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. Edgewood captured the tournament title in 2004 to earn its first NCAA berth.

###