FITCHBURG, Wis. (March 30, 2006) – Thursday marked the home opener for the Edgewood College softball team, as the Eagles (8-8) split a non-conference doubleheader with visiting Clarke College (7-7). Edgewood won 9-5 in game one, and fell 4-2 in the nightcap from McGaw Park.

Nichole Johnson (Waunakee, Wis.) belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and Noelle Wimer (Dodgeville, Wis.) hit a two-run shot in  the second to get the Eagles out to a 4-0 lead. Kristin Borre’s (Beloit, Wis.) single in the bottom of the third inning drove in a pair of runs to highlight a four-run frame.

Threatened by a shortened game due to the 8-0 margin, the Crusader retaliated with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. They would also plate three more in the top of the sixth, but the Eagle offense had already put things out of reach.

Of the 20 hits in the contest, 12 belonged to the Eagles. Johnson went 3-for-4 at the plate as did leadoff batter Jennifer Stephens (St. Charles, Ill.). Wimer finished with three RBIs.

It was Clarke, however, which raced out to an early lead and out-hit Edgewood 10-6 in game two. The Crusaders got on the scoreboard with one run in the top of the second. They followed suit every other inning until adding an additional run in the top of the sixth to take a 4-0 lead.

With one out in the Eagles’ bottom half of the seventh, back-to-back errors by Clarke allowed two unearned runs to score. Edgewood had the potential game-tying run at first base to end the game.

The Eagles’ Lake Michigan Conference opener is slated for Tuesday, April 4 against Marian College, the coaches’ favorite to win the 2006 LMC championship. The doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. at McGaw Park in Fitchburg.