VERONA, Wis. (Apr. 27, 2008) – The Eagles needed to win just one of their final two conference games and got just that, earning a split to clinch the final spot in the conference tournament. The Eagles won a wild game one 9-8 thanks to a
Colleen Joyce walk-off home run while the Falcons took game two 7-1 to salvage the split, despite having already been eliminated the previous game.
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Colleen Joyce three-run blast with two outs in the bottom of the seventh propelled the Eagles to the 9-8 win. It was a wild game that featured six lead changes, 25 hits, three home runs and seven errors. With the Eagles leading 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning, Megan Coburn hit a lead-off home run to knot the score and swing the momentum in favor of the Falcons. Teammate Emily Bennin added another home run blast in the inning as the Falcons piled on five runs to take the 8-4 lead. The Eagles would not surrender however, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh to take game one, highlighted by Joyce's three-run homer to end the game.
Jennifer Stephens led the offensive charge for the Eagles, going four-for-five at the plate with two RBIs. Teammate
Colleen Joyce was two-for-three with three RBIs while Concordia Wisconsin's Tara Wagner was three-for-five.
Jenna Ryan (13-7) pitched all seven innings for the Eagles, allowing six earned runs picking up win number 13. Concordia's Jenna DiMaggio (7-9) absorbed the loss, pitching six and two-thirds innings, allowing seven earned runs. The loss eliminated the Falcons from the conference tournament. Concordia needed a sweep of the Eagles and a pair of wins over Marian on Monday to make the tournament as the six seed.
Game two was all Falcons, scoring four runs in the third inning, exploiting Eagle miscues en route to a 7-1 win to split the series. With the game scoreless in the third inning, Concordia Wisconsin capitalized on good hitting from the bottom of the order and Edgewood College miscues to score four runs. The Eagles committed two errors in the inning, along with a passed ball and a wild pitch. Amber Nero, hitting in the nine spot for the Falcons was two-for-two at the plate with two doubles.
Jennifer Stephens (3-5) was hit with the loss, pitching four innings and allowing three earned runs while Jennifer Knox (7-5) picked up the win, pitching a complete game, allowing just four hits and one earned run.
The Falcons got production from the bottom of the order both games. Their number nine hitter's combined to hit two doubles and a home run over the course of the series with two RBIs.
Sunday's doubleheader was senior day as the team honored their lone senior
Jennifer Stephens. Stephens has started in 160 games for the Eagles, earning all-conference accolades as a freshman, sophomore and junior. Stephens holds career school records for runs scored, hits, stolen bases and at-bats. On Sunday Stephens registered four hits, pushing her season total to 62 on the year, breaking the single season record of 59 hits set in 2007 by Leslie Bell.
With the split the Eagles move to 20-14 overall and 15-9 in conference while the Falcons move to 18-18 overall and 13-9 in NAC action. The series split gives Edgewood College the final spot in the conference tournament. The six-team conference tournament begins on May 1 at Jericho Park the home field of number one seed Aurora. The Eagles host UW-Platteville on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader in what will be the final home games of 2008. The game will be webcast live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com with first pitch slated for 4 p.m. Edgewood College begins the NAC Tournament on Thursday, May 1 with an opening round game against third seed Marian College.
Summary by Mark Albanese, Sports Information
