John Koenig

With the roar of the crowd and the crack of the bat, the UW-Eau Claire softball season began in Rosemount (Minn.).

The two-time regular season defending WIAC champion Blugolds start the season ranked No. 16, beginning its season in a series of double headers against Buena Vista (IOWA), University of St. Thomas (Minn.) and Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.).

The four teams met on neutral ground at the Rosemount Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount. The Blugolds came out of the games with a 4-2 record.

“I was very impressed this weekend,” junior Mallory McKinney said. “We hit the ball really well and defensively we played really well.”

The Blugolds first double header was against Buena Vista, winning the first game of the season 3-0 and winning game two 5-1, bringing the team’s record to 2-0.

Leading the team’s offense was sophomore Casey Leisgang, going 1-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and one run scored in the first game. She also went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run in the second game.
The team’s second double header was against No. 1 ranked, and two-time defending Div. III national champion, St. Thomas.
“We were right there along with them the whole time,” McKinney said. “When we see them in May we will keep it close if not win.”

Game one against the Tommies started out with a 3-0 lead over the Blugolds, allowing the ‘Golds only two runs made by an RBI by Leisgang and a home run by McKinney.

But the two runs weren’t enough to give the Blugolds the win, losing the game 3-2.

The second game, the Blugolds lost to St. Thomas 5-3, dropping its record to 2-2.

The team finished off its double headers with games against Gustavus.

The team beat Gustavus both games, the first one 9-2 and the second 7-4.

“We’re looking really good this season,” Leisgang said. “With six teams in and already several weeks of practice, this is just the push we need going into our spring break games as well as conference.”

The team goes on to play for a week over Spring Break in Kissimmee (Fla.) at the Rebel Spring Games, playing 10 games in five days.