TUCSON, Ariz. (March 18, 2007)—Mirroring the entire weekend, the Edgewood College softball team split yet another pair of games in their final day of the Tucson Invitational. This was their third split in the three days. The Eagles were beaten handily in their first game of the day, 11-2 by the Norse of Luther College (Decorah, IA) but managed an 11-3 triumph of Manchester College (North Manchester, IN) in their final game of the Invitational.
Against Luther in 5 innings, the Eagles were stunned as they gave up multiple runs to the Norse in every inning. Luther ran out to an 11-0 lead going into the final inning, aided much in part from three Norse homeruns in the game, two from third baseman Ashley Hoffman. The Eagles gave up 13 hits, while only managing 4 themselves, half of which did not come until the final inning. Senior pitcher Kristin Borre (Beloit, Wis.) provided the lone offensive explosion for the Eagles when she belted a 2-run homerun down the leftfield line in the fifth inning getting the Eagles into the scoring column.
In the nightcap and final game of the Invitational, the Eagles reversed their earlier misfortunes with a strong team-oriented conquest of the Spartans of Manchester College in 5 innings. Eleven different players scattered hits for the Eagles, as they garnered 17 hits on the game. The Eagles jumped out to a commanding 9-0 lead after two innings, 7 of which came in the opening inning. Jessica Stephens (St. Charles, Ill.) went 4-for-4 on the day, scoring 2 runs and 2 RBI’s. Meanwhile, Kristin Borre (3-3) (Beloit, Wis.) displayed her offensive and defensive versatility, pitching 4 innings and striking out a game high seven of eighteen batters faced. She also went 2-for-2 at the plate with 2 RBI’s.
The Eagles now come back to “not so sunny Wisconsin,” finishing up their 2007 Tucson trip with a 3-3 record (5-5 overall). After playing six games in three days, the Eagles welcome a small break, playing next at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. Saturday March, 24 in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00pm.
Josh Juedes, Edgewood College Sports Information
