Softball Splits, Prepare for IIAC Opener
Mar 30, 2014
UD Vs. St. Scholastica Box Score
UD Vs. UW-Eau Claire Box Score
OSKALOOSA, Iowa - The University of Dubuque softball team split on Sunday at the Central Invite, opening with a 4-3 victory over St. Scholastica and battling to a 1-2 loss against UW-Eau Claire in the nightcap. The Spartans (11-5 overall) are preparing for a busy week as they open Iowa Conference play on the road at Buena Vista University (8-10 overall) in Storm Lake on April 1.
Against St. Scholastica, UD trailed early in the contest before scoring three runs in the third inning to take the lead 3-2. Scholastica added a run in the top of the sixth inning to knot the game at 3-3. The Spartans scored in the seventh inning when Kelli Gerace pitch hit and doubled doen left center. An error in next as bat by centerfielder sent Gerace home for the winning run. Amanda Williams collected the victory after facing four batters.
In game versus UW-Eau Claire, the game was a pitchers dual with the two squads combining for just seven hits in the contest. Eau Claire jumped out to a two run lead in the third inning after a walk and a two-run homerun. The two teams played even through the top of the seventh when the Spartans scored a run when Ainsley Billesbach sac flied to centerfield scoring Megan Davis who pitch ran for the walked Gerace. The Spartans scored one run on one hit in the top of the seventh.
Three teams in the IIAC enter the week ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll and all, but one team has above a .500 overall mark. The Spartans are 10-0 when collecting more hits than their opponents, are 9-5 vs. right handed starting pitchers, and are 9-3 when leading after the third inning of play in 2014.
The Spartans leaders are:
| Batting avg | |||
| 1. | Meggie Schmidt | .419 | |
| 2. | Tori Woltz | .407 | |
| 3. | Hannah Koerperich | .391 | |
| 4. | Ainsley Billesbach | .350 | |
| 5. | Caitlin Aulwes | .326 | |
| Slugging pct | |||
| 1. | Hannah Koerperich | .870 | |
| 2. | Meggie Schmidt | .645 | |
| 3. | Ainsley Billesbach | .625 | |
| 4. | Tori Woltz | .593 | |
| 5. | Amber Meyer | .500 | |
| Runs batted in | |||
| 1. | Tori Woltz | 18 | |
| Hannah Koerperich | 18 | ||
| 3. | Amber Meyer | 12 | |
| 4. | Ainsley Billesbach | 8 | |
| 5. | Meggie Schmidt | 7 |
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