University of Wisconsin - Stout

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Oeltjen, Peterson honorable mention All-WIAC

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MENOMONIE (May 7, 2008) - UW-Stout's Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) and Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) were named All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) honorable mention.

Oeltjen, the shortstop who batted leadoff in all but one game, finished the season hitting .296, going 34-115, with four doubles, two triples, one home run, six runs batted in and stole nine bases. Oeltjen had a fielding percentage of .913.

Peterson, the first baseman, had a field percentage of .992, committing only two errors in 266 chances. Peterson was second on the team in RBI with 13 and batted .284, going 29-102 with four doubles and two home runs. Peterson was an honorable mention choice last season.

Oeltjen and Peterson tied for the team lead in runs scored with 15.

Oeltjen was also selected to the All-Sportsmanship team.

Blue Devils end season at WIAC tournament

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STEVENS POINT (May 3, 2008) - Trailing 2-0 in the top of the seventh, Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) gave UW-Stout a last chance to extend the season with a double to left field.

But Oeltjen stranded at second base was a metaphor for the Blue Devils' season as Stout lost, 2-0, to UW-Superior in the play-in game of the WIAC tournament at Fritsch Field in Zenoff Park.

The Blue Devils (7-29) stranded eight runners, while scattering three hits - the double by Oeltjen in the seventh, a single by Sara Sivertson (Fr, Elk Mound) in the second when Stout left the bases loaded and a single by slapper Kaitlin Helgaas (Fr, Fond du Lac) in the fifth.

The Yellowjackets (14-21) also scattered three hits, but took advantage of a Stout error to score a single run in the fourth. Brooke Bailey stroked a lead-off double in the fifth, then advanced to third and home on two wild pitches for Superior's second run.

Superior advances to play top seeded UW-Whitewater.

Conference tournament pushed back one day

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STEVENS POINT (May 1, 2008) - Because of impending inclement weather, the 2008 WIAC Tournament will be pushed back one day and will begin on Saturday, May 2.

UW-Stout will play UW-Superior in the opening game at 9 a.m. at Stevens Point's Zenoff Park. The schedule remains the same.

UW-Stevens Point will make Live Stats available on Field 1 and on Field 2.

Stout allows three runs, still drop doubleheader

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ST. PAUL, Minn (April 29, 2008) - UW-Stout allowed only three runs over two games, but still lost both ends of a doubleheader to Hamline University, 2-0, 1-0, Tuesday.

In the opener, the Pipers scored the only two runs of the game in the third inning as Jourdon Ulrich scored on a squeeze bunt and Grace Weinrich stole home moments later.

Stout (7-28) scattered four hits, two in the first inning, but never had more than one runner on at the same time.

Except for the third inning, the Blue Devil defense kept Hamline (24-12) empty, and overcame a first inning error to strand three Piper runners. Hamline left eight runners on base.

Kristy Hoffman (So, Circle Pines, Minn) went the distance for Stout, striking out seven and walking none.

Errors caught up with Stout in the second game, as the only run given up by Rachel Roberts (So, Crystal, Minn) was unearned.

With one out, pinch hitter Cortney Bailey reached on a throwing error and advanced to second. Pinch runner Kellie Hoen moved to third on the play and came home on a sacrifice bunt.

Stout twice left two runners stranded in innings and twice ended innings on double plays. The Blue Devils outhit Hamline, 6-4.

Roberts took the loss against her former team, going the distance, striking out seven giving up no walks.

No walks were issued by any pitcher throughout the day. Kelsey Tacheny got the win in the second game, striking out five and Jessalyn Weaver won the first game, striking out six.

Stout will be at the WIAC Championships, Friday, May 2, and will face UW-Superior in the opening game at 9 a.m. in Stevens Point.

Blue Devils drop final two home games

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MENOMONIE (April 28, 2008) - UW-La Crosse swept the UW-Stout softball team in the Blue Devils' final home appearance of the season, 5-3, 7-0, Monday at Alumni Field.

In the opener, La Crosse (22-15, 8-8) built a 5-0 lead, but Stout (7-26, 0-16) put together a comeback in the fifth inning.

Back-to-back home runs by Carly Grover (Fr, Zumbrotta, Minn) and Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) gave Stout a chance to pull out the win.

Chelsea Nelson (Fr, Rochester, Minn) opened the inning with a single, then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on Lisa Reiter's (Fr, Elgin, Minn) groundout.

Grover went in to pinch hit, and smacked the first ball she saw over the centerfield fence. Oeltjen answered back with a solo shot to right centerfield.

The Eagles got a single run in the second, then added two in the third on a single by Kelsey Golackson. Liz Bradley drove in a run in the fourth and Rachel Weyer's triple in the fifth scored the Eagles' final run.

Oeltjen was 2-for-4 for Stout, while Weyer was 3-for-5 to lead the Eagles.

In the nightcap, the Eagles scored two run in the first, three in the third and two in the fourth. Kelsey Salm had a three-run home run to center in the third inning. The Eagles finished the game with 11 hits, including a 3-for-4 game by Jenna Ahnen, who had to leave the first game after an injury.

Stout scattered five hits in the contest and Grover went 2-for-3. Both teams left five runners stranded.

Stout will be at Hamline University, Tuesday, April 29. The Blue Devils will be at the WIAC Tournament, Friday, May 2 and will play UW-Superior in the first game at 9 a.m. in Stevens Point.

Blue Devils can't pull off win over Pioneers

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MENOMONIE (April 27, 2008) - Just when it looked like a victory was within the grasp'of UW-Stout, UW-Platteville pried the Blue Devils' fingers open and took the win from Stout Sunday.

With the Blue Devils leading 5-3 heading into the seventh inning, the Pioneers took a two run lead, only to see Stout tie the score in the bottom half of the inning. But Platteville put up four runs in the eighth to take an 11-7 win. The Pioneers won the first game, 12-3.

The Blue Devils (7-24, 0-14) jumped on the Pioneers (12-18, 6-7) in the first inning of the second game with three runs.

Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland), who finished the day with five total RBIs, provided the spark, driving in Kaitlin Helgaas (Fr, Fond du Lac) with a double. Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) plated Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) with a single to give Stout a 2-0 lead and move Peterson to third, who went on to steal home.

The Pioneers scored two in the second, one on a solo home run by Mandy Cerqua., then tied the score on a solo home run by Dru Schneider in the fourth.

The Blue Devils took the lead back with a two-run RBI single to right field by Carly Grover (Fr, Zumbrotta, Minn).

But the Pioneers would score four runs in the top of the seventh, with Tera Burr hitting a line drive three-run home run to right field to give the Pioneers a 7-5 lead.

Peterson would tie the game with one swing of the bat, bringing Lloyd along with her on a two run shot to right field to tie the score at 7-7 and send the game into extra innings.

Platteville would not be denied. Samantha Niemann scored the eventual game winning run, with a double to center field. Niemann scored on a hard hit by Whitney Foltz up the middle, and Bridgette Clark's triple brought in two more runs.

In the opener, the Pioneers took a 9-1 lead into the sixth inning. Peterson hit a two-run home run in the sixth to push the game into the seventh inning and Platteville tacked on three more runs in the seventh.

Peterson had her first two home runs of the season and batted 4-for-6 with three runs scored and five RBIs.

On the day, there were seven total home runs, with Platteville's Burr also rapping two.

Stout is scheduled to host UW-La Crosse, Monday, April 28 at 4 p.m. in a make-up game from Saturday.

Blue Devils drop a pair to UW-Superior

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MENOMONIE (April 23, 2008) - UW-Stout almost squeaked out a win over UW-Superior, before losing 3-2, then were blanked by the Yellowjackets, 11-0, in five innings, Wednesday at Alumni Field.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) belted a one-out single, then scored when Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) drove her home with a single. Peterson advanced to second on an error, but was stranded.

The Yellowjackets (13-17, 2-8) jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a Brittany Bloedorn single in the second. The 'Jackets put a single run on the board in the when Mel Kunzelman homered.

The Yellowjackets were limited to three hits, while Stout (7-22, 0-12) tallied six hits, but left 10 runners on base. No Stout batter had more than one hit.

In the second game, the Yellowjackets hit three home runs, one off each of Stout's pitchers. Superior put six runs in the book in the second inning as Kunzelman hit a three-run rocket almost to the baseball field. Superior added four more runs in the third, two on a double by Kayla Amundson and two on a double by Becky Crane.

Superior smashed out 15 hits to three for Stout.

The Blue Devils will host UW-La Crosse, Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and UW-Platteville, Sunday, April 27 at noon.

Oshkosh nips Stout in bottom of seventh

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OSHKOSH (April 21, 2008) - Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) scattered six hits and allowed only one unearned run, but UW-Stout was nipped by UW-Oshkosh in the bottom of the seventh, 1-0, Monday at the Oshkosh Sports Complex. Oshkosh won the second game, 10-2, in six innings.

Fichter was going toe-to-toe with Oshkosh ace Ronessa Stampfli, allowing only three hits heading into the seventh inning. The Titans (19-7, 9-2) loaded the bases, aided by an error, and Sydnee Wyss drove in the winning run with a one out single to right field.

Fichter struck out three on the afternoon, and only once allowed a runner to third base until the seventh inning.

Stampfli struck out 15 Blue Devils and held Stout (7-20, 0-10) to one hit, a lead off slapper by Kaitlin Helgaas (Fr, Fond du Lac) in the fourth inning.

Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) and Natalie Most (Fr, Prescott) each drove in a run in the top of the first to give Stout a 2-0 lead in the second game, but Oshkosh scored 10 unanswered runs, two in the first, four in the second and four in the sixth to end the game an inning early.

Oshkosh tallied seven hits to Stout's three hits - all three in the first inning - in this error-proned game. Stout committed five errors, while the Titans committed three.

Stout was to host Gustavus Adolphus, Tuesday, April 22, but that game has been cancelled and will not be made up.

Stout will host UW-Superior, Wednesday, April 23 at 3 p.m., UW-La Crosse, Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and UW-Platteville, Sunday, April 27 at noon.

Games with Gustavus cancelled

MENOMONIE (April 21, 2008) - The Gustavus Adolphus at UW-Stout game scheduled for Tuesday, April 22 has been cancelled and will not be made up.

The game was originally scheduled for April 6 and the teams played through the second inning with Stout holding a 3-0 lead when the game was halted because of rain.

The games will not be rescheduled because both teams schedules are overloaded with make-up games due to this season's rather inclement and unpredictable weather.

Stout will host UW-Superior, Wednesday, April 23 at 3 p.m., UW-La Crosse, Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and UW-Platteville, Sunday, April 27 at noon.

Whitewater takes two from Blue Devils

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WHITEWATER (April 20, 2008) - UW-Whitewater took two games from UW-Stout, Sunday, 7-2 and 8-0 in five innings.

In the opener, the Warhawks (16-6, 6-2) put five runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning.

Stout (7-18, 0-8) scored in the third inning when Kristy Hoffman (So, Circle Pines, Minn) led off with a single and eventually scored from third on a wild pitch. Whitewater scored in the fourth and sixth innings. Stout got their final run of the day when Kaitlin Helgaas (Fr, Fond du Lac) drove in Carly Grover (Fr, Zumbrotta, Minn), who reached on an error.

In the second game, the Warhawks scored single runs in the first and fourth and six runs in the second. Stout scattered four hits throughout the game, with Helgaas getting two.

Stout will be at UW-Oshkosh, Monday, April 21 at 2 p.m., then will host Gustavus Adolphus, Tuesday, April 22 at 4 p.m. and UW-Superior, Wednesday, April 23 at 3 p.m. The Blue Devils will close out the WIAC schedule by hosting UW-La Crosse, Saturday, April 26 at 2 p.m. and UW-Platteville, Sunday, April 27 at noon.

Weather forces weekend schedule changes

MENOMONIE (April 19, 2008) - Weather again took the upper hand as the UW-Stout softball team was forced into a weekend schedule change.

The Blue Devils were scheduled to be at UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, April 19, but that game has been rescheduled to Monday, April 21 at noon in Oshkosh. Stout is still scheduled to play at UW-Whitewater, Sunday, April 20, but that game time has been changed to 2:30 p.m.

Stout will host Gustavus Adolphus, Tuesday, April 22 at 4 p.m. in a makeup game that began April 6, but was halted after two complete innings with Stout leading, 3-0. The game will begin in the top of the third.

The Blue Devils are scheduled to host UW-Superior, Wednesday, April 23 at 3 p.m.

Luther thunders past Devils in seventh

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MENOMONIE (April 17, 2008) - When the rain came, so did the runs as Luther College thundered over UW-Stout, 19-3, in a non-conference game at Alumni Field Thursday.

Luther College (24-7) led, 5-3, going into the seventh inning as the rains started to fall and the Norse sent 19 batters to the plate and scored 14 unanswered runs to take the win. The second game was called before it even started.

The Norse's Kayla Denner, the No. 9 hitter, inflicted the biggest hurt on the Blue Devils with a grand slam in the seventh. Denner also hit a solo shot to lead off the third and finished the day with five RBI.

Luther opened the game by scoring twice in the first inning, then added two in the third.

Stout (7-16) scrapped together a run in the third when Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) doubled in Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn).

The Norse added a unearned run in the fourth inning before Stout pulled to within two in the bottom of the fourth.

Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) opened the inning with a single to center field, then scored when Carly Grover (Fr, Zumbrotta, Minn) marked her first collegiate home run, a long hooking laser that wrapped around the left field pole.

Neither team scored until the floodgates opened in the seventh.

Stout will be at UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, April 19 and at UW-Whitewater, Sunday, April 20. The Blue Devils are scheduled to host Gustavus Adolphus either Monday, April 21 or Tuesday, April 22, then will host UW-Superior, Wednesday, April 23.

Pointers squeeze past Stout in second game

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STEVENS POINT (April 15, 2008) - UW-Stout took a 2-0 lead in the second game, but could not hold and lost 3-2 to drop both ends of a doubleheader Tuesday at UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers won the opening game, 10-2 in five innings.

The Blue Devils (7-15, 0-6) grabbed the lead in the first inning of the second inning when Kaitlin Helgaas's (Fr, Fond du Lac) infield hit scored Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn), who had led off the game with a walk, then stole second.

Stout doubled their lead in the fourth inning. Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) led off with a single, then moved to second on a groundout. Peterson scored when Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) tried to stretch a single into a double.

The Pointers (17-5, 3-3) got on the board on a Chelsea McIlquham RBI in the bottom of the fourth. Stevens Point took the lead in the fifth inning when Korryn Brooks lifted a two-run home run to left field. Neither team got a runner past second the rest of the way.

In the opener, the Pointers took a 5-0 lead after three innings and carried the lead into the fifth inning when Stout scored twice. Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac), on a bases loaded walk, and Peterson, on a fielder's choice, drove in runs in the inning.

The Pointers put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. McIlquham hit a three-run home run and Samantha Bizeau hit a two run single to conclude the game on the eight-run rule.

Stout will host Luther College, Thursday, April 17 at 3 p.m., then will be at UW-Oshkosh, Saturday, April 19 and at UW-Whitewater, Sunday, April 20.

Blugolds take Stout in six innings in both games

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EAU CLAIRE (April 9, 2008) - UW-Eau Claire used a number of big innings to sweep a pair of conference games over UW-Stout Wednesday at Bollinger Fields.

The Blugolds (17-5, 2-0) defeated Stout 8-0 in the first game, scoring four runs in the fourth inning, then turned around to down the Blue Devils (7-13, 0-4) 10-2 by scoring five in the third and five again in the sixth.

In the opener, the game was scoreless until the Blugolds scored four in the fourth. Eau Claire added two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

The Blugolds' Michelle Butkus was 3-for-4, while Casey Leisgang and Tamara Zemen each had two hits in Eau Claire's 12-hit attack.

Stout was limited to three hits, with Sara Sivertson (Fr, Elk Mound) hitting a lead-off double in the third inning.

In the second game, Butkus keyed the five-run third with a two-run double and Kristi Doucette had a two-run home run.

Stout got on the board when Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) reached on an error in the fourth inning, then was brought home by Katie Fichter's (Jr, Baraboo) two-run home run.

Zemen hit a two-run single in the sixth and Jill Janke hit a three-run home run to end the game.

Stout is scheduled to be at the Illinois Wesleyan Tournament, April 12-13, and will be at UW-Stevens Point, Tuesday, April 15.

Game with Gustavus halted

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MENOMONIE (April 6, 2008) - UW-Stout led Gustavus Adolphus, 3-0, after two complete innings when the game was halted, then postponed until either April 21 or April 22.

The Blue Devils took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then boosted that to 3-0 on a two-run home run to left field by Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) in the second inning.

The rain began just before game time and play was in a steady shower until the grounds became unplayable.

The game will be continued in the top of third and a second complete game is expected to be played.

Falcons blank Blue Devils in both games

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MENOMONIE (April 5, 2008) - UW-River Falls held UW-Stout to four hits on the day, and all four of those hits came in the second game as the Falcons defeated the Blue Devils, 5-0, 4-0, in a WIAC-opening doubleheader.

The Falcons' Ashley Bertrand pitched a no-hitter, allowing only two runners. Stout's Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) drew two walks off Bertand for the only Blue Devil runners in the game.

The Falcons (19-1, 2-0) scored a single run in the first, then added three runs in the third on a Keri Feller home run. River Falls finished the game with 10 hits.

In the second game, Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) smacked out to of Stout's (7-11, 0-2) four hits, including a double. Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) beat out a bunt that died in front of home plate and Chelsey Nelson (Fr, Rochester, Minn) lifted a single to left field in the fifth.

The Falcons opened the game with two runs in the top of the first as Feller drove in two runs with a double to left field. The Falcons added two runs in the fifth, on RBIs by Emily Howlett and Amanda Peters. The Falcons had six hits in the game.

Stout is scheduled to host Gustavus Adolphus, Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m., weather permitting. The Blue Devils are scheduled to be at UW-Eau Claire, Tuesday, April 8.

Weather winning the battles in first week of April

MENOMONIE (April 2, 2008) - Two weeks ago, the only weather related question for the UW-Stout softball team was which strength of sunblock to use.

After a spring break trip to the tropics of Hawaii, the Blue Devil softball team is dealing with the reality of Wisconsin's "spring" weather.

The Blue Devils were scheduled to open conference play, Tuesday, April 1 at UW-Eau Claire, but that game has been postponed to Tuesday, April 8 at 3 p.m. Stout was scheduled to play UW-River Falls in their home opener, Thursday, April 3, but that game has been postponed to Saturday, April 5 at 1 p.m. at Alumni Field.

Trip to Hawaii ends in losses to Chaminade

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WAIPULA, Hawaii (March 21, 2008) - UW-Stout jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second game, but couldn't hold it and fell to Chaminade University, 8-3, in the Blue Devils' final game of their spring break trip to Hawaii. In the first game, Chaminade took a 2-0 lead, then held on for a 3-1 win.

Leadoff hitter Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) reachd in the first game with a shallow double that fell between two Silversword players. Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) drove Oeltjen home with a two-out single to left field. Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) plated Peterson with a single two batters later.

Chaminade answered back with two runs in the second to knot the game, then took the lead with a run in the second and got the eventual game-winning run in the third. Kelly Conway (Fr, La Crescent, Minn) drove in Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) for Stout's final run of the game in the fifth inning. Chaminade (8-15), an NCAA Division II program, added two runs in both the fifth and the sixth.

In the opener, Chaminade took a 1-0 lead in the second, then added two runs in the third. The Blue Devils (7-9) got their only run of the game when Chelsey Nelson (Fr, Rochester, Minn) scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Peterson. The Blue Devils stranded runners in each of the last five innings.

Kaitlin Helgaas (Fr, Fond du Lac) led Stout, going 2-for-2 with two bunt singles and reached all three times to the plate.

Stout is scheduled, weather permitting, to open conference play, Tuesday, April 1 at UW-Eau Claire.

Blue Devils edged by Chaminade in nightcap

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WAIPULA, Hawaii (March 18, 2008) - After a far less than ideal opening game loss, the UW-Stout softball team recovered for a very respectable showing in a 3-2 loss to NCAA Division II Chaminade University, Tuesday at Oahu Regional Park.

Chaminade (6-15) jumped all over the Blue Devils (7-7) in a 16-0, five inning affair in the opener.

But the Blue Devils bounced back to take a 2-0, first inning lead in the second game. Chelsey Nelson (Fr, Rochester, Minn) reached on a one-out single to right field. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland), then came home on a double by Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac). Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) plated Lloyd with a single to right field.Wild would go 2-for-3 in the game.

The Solver Swords cut the lead in half with a single run in the bottom of the second. Chaminade's Emily Harris would pick up the eventual game winning RBIs, smashing a two-run double in the fourth inning.

The two teams will meet again, Friday, March 21.

Blue Devils drop two games to BYU-Hawaii

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HA'ULA, Hawaii (March 17, 2008) - Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) and Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) both went 4-for-4 in the opener and UW-Stout took their first lead of their Hawaiian trip in the second game, but the Blue Devils dropped both games to BYU-Hawaii, Monday. BYU took the first contest 7-2 and the second, 9-1, in six innings.

The Seasiders (6-18) jumped out to a 4-0 run before Stout scored a single run in the third inning when Lloyd plated Oeltjen with a single to right field. Stout added another lead, and again it was Lloyd driving in Oeltjen, this time with a duble to centerfield.

BYU added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth.

In the opener, Stout (7-5) took the lead when Oeltjen hit a triple to right field, then came home on an errant throw in the top of the first. The Seasiders tied the score when Melissa Lehano hit a solo home run. BYU tacked on two runs in the second, one in the fourth, three in the fifth and ended the game with two runs in the sixth.

Oeltjen was 6-for-7 on the day and reached safely the first six times she came to the plate. Oeltjen had three singles and a triple in the first game. Lloyd had the teams only two RBIs of the day, both coming in the first game. Stout did not help their own cause in the second game, by committing seven errors.

Stout will play at Chaminade University, Tuesday, March 18. The two teams will also meet, Friday, March 21.

Blue Devils fall to undefeated Hawaii Pacific

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KANEOHE, Hawaii (March 16, 2008) - The UW-Stout softball team lost to undefeated Hawaii Pacific Unversity, 8-0, 10-0, Sunday.

The Sea Warriors' (17-0) Courtney Kessell threw a perfect game in the opener, facing only the minimum 15 batters in the contest.

Stout (7-3) did not allow the same to happen in the second game as Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) opened the contest with a lead-off. single and Megan McDonald (So, Hudson) followed that with an infield single, but three straight outs finished the inning.

Hawaii Pacific got a single run in the third, then exploded for nine runs in the fourth, sending 13 to the plate.

Stout will play Brigham Young University-Hawaii, Monday, March 17.

Stout struggles early, pounds ball late in sweep

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ROSEMOUNT, Minn (March 7, 2008) - After struggling to a 9-7 first game win, UW-Stout sent 16 batters to the plate in the first inning of the second game and went on to a 17-4 five inning win over Carleton College Friday at the Irish Sports Dome.

In the opener, Stout (7-1) fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, then slipped further behind, 5-1 - but not before a Sara Sivertson (Fr, Elk Mound) solo home run in the second - before waking up offensively in the top of the sixth inning. After back-to-back singles by Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) and Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) and a walk by Kelly Conway (Fr, LaCrescent, Minn), Sivertson knocked in two runs with a double. Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) brought Stout to within one, 5-4, with a sacrifice fly to bring home Sivertson.

Carleton (0-2) stretched out the lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth, but the Blue Devils exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh. Conway tied the score with a two-run double and winning pitcher Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) gave herself enough cushion with a three-run home run. The Knights added a run in the bottom of the inning for the final 9-7 score.

Fichter worked the last innings in the circle, allowing one unearned run and scattered three hits. The Blue Devils, defensively, did not help their cause, committing eight errors. Stout recorded 12 hits, seven coming in the final two innings.

Stout's first eight batters in the second game scored, mostly on bases-loaded walks, as the Blue Devils scored 11 first inning runs. Stout added six runs in the fourth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Stout finished with 12 hits, but also drew five walks and batters were hit twice by pitches.

Carleton scored three runs in the second inning and a solo run in the fifth. Kristy Hoffman (So, Circle Pines, Minn) scattered five hits in the win.

Stout is off until Sunday, March 16 when they play Hawaii Pacific University in Kapolei, Hawaii. Stout will also play Brigham Young-Hawaii and Chaminade University in Hawaii.

Blue Devils sweep Augsburg

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ROSEMOUNT, Minn (March 4, 2008) - Chelsey Nelson (Fr, Rochester, Minn) hit a ground out that turned into the eventual game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning and Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) smashed a two-run double to sew up the win as UW-Stout won a 7-4 extra inning first game and went on to a 9-5 win over Augsburg College for the sweep in the second game Tuesday at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, Minn.

Stout (5-1) opened the game with a three-run first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by catcher Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac). The Auggies (0-2) came back with a single run in the bottom of the inning, then tied the game with two runs in the third.

The Blue Devils took the lead when Kaitlin Helgaas (Fr, Fond du Lac), pinch running for Sara Sivertsen (Fr, Elk Mound) who led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, then stole third. Helgaas scored on a throwing error on the attempt to throw her out.

Augsburg sent the game into extra innings by scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

In the second game, the Blue Devils exploded for six runs in the second inning, aided by a number of miscues by the Auggies. Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn) drove in two runs to key the drive. Oeltjen also stole third base in the inning and came home on an error.

Stout added a single run in the fourth, but the Auggies added a run in the bottom half of the inning. Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) drove in two runs with a double to left field to make it 9-1.

The Auggies staved off early elimination by with single runs in the fifth and sixth, and added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Fichter finished the game by going 1-for-2 and two RBI. She pushed in an early run with a bases loaded walk. Fichter picked up the win, allowing three earned runs and striking out five.

Stout will play Carleton College, Friday, March 7 at 5:30 p.m. in Rosemount, Minn.

Roberts fans 14 as Blue Devils sweep St. Scholastica

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ROSEMOUNT, Minn (February 27, 2008) - Rachel Roberts (So, Crystal, Minn) recorded seven strikeouts in each game and picked up both wins as UW-Stout twice defeated St. Scholastica, 5-4, 8-7, Wednesday at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, Minn.

Roberts came on in the sixth inning of the first game, a nine inning affair, and struck out seven in 3.2 innings of work to pick up the win.

Stout (3-1) jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a four-run fifth inning, all four runs unearned, as the Saints (0-2) committed three errors in the inning. St. Scholastica scored a single run in the bottom of the fifth, then tied the game with three in the sixth.

The Blue Devils got the eventual game-winner in the top of the ninth when Megan McDonald (So, Hudson) reached on an infield error and Lisa Reiter (Fr, Elgin, Minn) scored from third. Roberts had to pitch out of a jam in the bottom of the ninth, but second baseman Kelly Conway (Fr, LaCrescent, Minn) got the final out by tagging out a runner attempting to advance on a fielders choice.

In game two, St. Scholastica jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second. Stout chipped away with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings and took a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Chelsea Nelson (Fr, Rochester, Minn) drove in two runs with a pinch hit double and Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) added a two run double. 

St. Scholastica tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the seventh on a home run by Michaela Carson and RBI single by Kristin Swartz. The Saints left the bases loaded.

Stout scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the seventh inning. Nelson keyed the game winner when her bunt single was misplayed and Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland), who was 4-for-4 for the game, came home on the errant throw.

Stout returns to the Irish Sports Dome, Tuesday, March 4 when they host Augsburg College at 9 a.m.

Blue Devils split with Northwestern in season opener

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ROSEMOUNT, Minn (February 22, 2008) - The UW-Stout fastpitch softball team opened the 2008 season by splitting a pair of game with Northwestern College in the Rosemount Dome Friday.

The Blue Devils broke the first game open late in the contest and went on to a 5-1 win. In the second game, Stout (1-1) allowed two first inning runs, then threatened offensively in nearly every inning, but could only push one run across and fell to the Eagles, 2-1.

In the opener, Northwestern got on the board first, scoring their only run of the game int he second inning. The Blue Devils took the lead in the fourth inning. Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) hit a one-out home run. Taylor Wild (Fr, Apple Valley, Minn) followed up with a single, then scored on a triple by Sara Sivertson (Fr, Elk Mound).

Stout scored three in the seventh inning to cap off the win. Megan McDonald (So, Hudson), Kelly Conway (Fr, La Crescent, Minn) and Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland) each scored. Fichter had a two run double to score Conway and Peterson. Conway drove in McDonald with a double.

Kristy Hoffman (So, Circle Pine, Minn) recorded eight strikeouts to record in the win.

In the second game, the Eagles first two runners walked and scored on errors. Stout's only run came in the sixth inning when Rachel Roberts (So, Crystal, Minn) drove in Sivertson, who led off the inning with a double. Roberts recorded 11 strikeouts, but recorded the loss.

Stout returns to the Rosemount Dome, Tuesday, Feb. 27 when they host St. Scholastica at 9 a.m.

Blue Devils open season with six returners

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MENOMONIE (February 21, 2008) - First team all-conference catcher Beth Lloyd (Sr, Fond du Lac) will lead the UW-Stout fastpitch softball team as they open the 2008 season by meeting Northwestern College, Friday, Feb. 22 at the Rosemount Dome in Rosemount, Minn., at 9 a.m.

Stout returns six players from last year's squad and field a team consisting of 14 freshman and one sophomore transfer.

Lloyd last season hit at a .419 clip (52-124) and had six doubles on the season.

The Blue Devils, who finished the season at 16-21 last year, also return pitcher Kristy Hoffman (So, Circle Pines, Minn), shortstop Savanah Oeltjen (Sr, Spring Valley, Minn), first baseman Nelly Peterson (Jr, Cumberland), outfielder/pitcher Katie Fichter (Jr, Baraboo) and oufielder Megan McDonald (So, Hudson).

Hoffman turned into the Blue Devils' lead pitcher, seeing action in 26 games, posting a 9-8 overall record. She pitched a team-high 118 innings with 50 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.49.

Oeltjen has held down the starting role at shortstop for the last two seasons. Last year, Oeltjen hit .280 from the lead-off spot with seven sacrifice bunts, and collected eight stolen bases. Oeltjen finished the season with a .928 fielding percentage.

Peterson was a jack-of-all-trades who played first, second and third base, as well as shortstop over the course of the season, committed six errors in 254 chances for a fielding percentage of .977.

Fichter made 14 appearances in the circle and collected 45 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. Fichter also started 11 games in center field.

McDonald hit .333, going 27-of-81 in 34 games. She was perfect in stolen base, taking all four attempts.

Blue Devils to host clinic in March

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MENOMONIE (December 14, 2007) - UW-Stout will host the 2008 UW-Stout Spring Fastpitch Clinic, March 1-2, at the Sports & Fitness Center in the Multi-purpose Room.

The Blue Devil coaching staff and team members will offer instruction in pitching, offensive and defensive skills, team bonding activities, and goal setting. Staff and players will provide constructive feedback and focus on having fun in the process.

There will be two sessions, one for beginners and one for more advanced players. The beginners session will be Saturday, March 1, beginning at 9:30 a.m., with the advanced session held Sunday, March 2, beginning at 9 a.m.

For more information, contact Blue Devil coach Chris Stainer, 715-232-1336 or stainerc@uwstout.edu

Blue Devils announce team awards

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MENOMONIE (May 9, 2007) - Catcher Beth Lloyd (Jr, Fond du Lac) was named the Most Valuable Player by the UW-Stout softball team, coach Chris Stainer announced recently.

Lloyd, a first team all-WIAC pick, hit at a .419 clip (52-124) and had six doubles on the season. Lloyd also received the team's Slugger Award.

Jack-of-all-trades Nelly Peterson (So, Cumberland) received the Golden Glove Award with a fielding percentage of .977. Peterson, who played first, second and third base, as well as shortstop over the course of the season, committed six errors in 254 chances.

Pitcher Kristy Hoffman (Fr, Circle Pines, Minn/Centennial) was named Rookie of the Year. Bobbie Harriman (Fr, Owatonna, Minn) earned the Super Sub Award and Megan McDonald (Fr, Hudson) and Cassey Knoche (So, St. Paul, Minn/Como Park) were most improved.

Tara Donahou (So, Littlefork, Minn/Big Falls) received the Spirit Award and the Most Dedicated Award. Savanah Oeltjen (Jr, Spring Valley, Minn/Kingsland) was the recipient of the Team Leader Award.

Hoffman turned into the Blue Devils' lead pitcher, seeing action in 26 games, posting a 9-8 overall record. She pitched a team-high 118 innings with 50 strikeouts and an earned run average of 2.49. Hoffman also wielded the bat during the final third of the season, hitting .278 with five RBI.

Harriman played both outfield and was the designated player. She hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the seventh inning in a game the Blue Devils went on to win. McDonald hit .333 - third best on the team - going 27-of-81 in 34 games. She was perfect in stolen base, taking all four attempts. Knoche found a spot at third base, playing in 36 games. She recorded eight RBI and had two home runs.

Donahou alternated between first base and left field and had a fielding percentage of .966. Oeltjen led the team in stolen bases with eight and also drove in nine runs.

The Blue Devils finished the season at 16-21 overall, 4-12 in the WIAC.

Beth Lloyd named first team all-WIAC

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MENOMONIE (May 8, 2007) - UW-Stout's Beth Lloyd (Jr, Fond du Lac) never let her batting average slip under .400 this season and the diminutive catcher could also throw out runners attempting to steal. Lloyd was a first team selection to the 2007 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's softball team.

Beth LloydLloyd was joined on the honors team by teammates Nelly Peterson (So, Cumberland) and Amanda McKellips (So, Mosinee), who were both honorable mention choices.

Lloyd was held hitless in only six of 37 games this season, and finished the season with a batting average of .419, going 52-for-124 with 29 runs scored and six runs batted in as predominately the lead-off hitter. Behind the plate, Lloyd threw out 14 runners attempting to steal. Of those 14, eight came in WIAC games where only 13 runners attempted to steal against her. She also recorded five pick-off plays.

McKellips hit .381 (32-84) with 17 RBI before seeing her season end with a late-season injury after 27 games. McKellips played mostly in centerfield, but did play some shortstop.

Peterson proved to be a jack of all trades, moving between first base, second base, third base and shortstop during the season. Despite all of the moves, Peterson posted a fielding percentage of .977. At the plate, Peterson hit .292 (31-106) with six doubles and 13 RBI.

Stout finished the season at 16-21 overall, 4-12 in the WIAC.