FASTPITCH SOFTBALL
The Blue Devils (8-22, 3-11) step out of conference play Thursday, April 27 to travel to 16th ranked St. Scholastica (25-7) in Duluth, Minn. The Blue Devils come back into WIAC play Saturday, April 29 and will be at UW-Stevens Point (18-13-1, 2-8), then close out the regular home portion of their schedule by hosting Ripon College (14-12), Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m. in a non-conference game. The Blue Devils split with Scholastica (L 1-0, W 2-0) last year, took all three from the Pointers (1-0, 2-0, 1-0) and swept Ripon (4-3, 6-1). Last week: The Blue Devils went 3-3 on the week, splitting three conference doubleheaders. Stout lost to UW-River Falls, 4-0, then bounced back for a 3-2 win over the Falcons, April 20. Stout made it two in a row with a series-opening, 5-1, win over UW-La Crosse, April 22, then lost the nightcap, 4-1. The Blue Devils recovered from a 6-1 loss to UW-Platteville, April 23, to take a 2-1 second game win over the Pioneers. Player of the week: Amanda McKellips, Fr, Mosinee, Wis.; Pitcher of the week: Katie Fichter, Fr, Baraboo, Wis.

BASEBALL
The Blue Devils (9-18, 7-9) will host Augsburg College (15-13-1), Wednesday, April 26 at 1 p.m. in a single nine inning game. UW-Platteville (13-15, 6-11) will come to town for a weekend series, April 29-30, with first pitch on both days scheduled for noon. Stout took an 11-2 win over Augsburg last year, and went 1-3 with Platteville. Last week: The Blue Devils dropped two games to UW-Stevens Point April 19, 1-0 and 7-5, then split a non-conference series with Bethel University, April 22. Stout won the first, 7-3, but lost the second, 5-4. Player of the week: Seth Maier, Jr, Park Falls, Wis. Pitcher of the week: Scott Decker, Jr, Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial)

WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils are scheduled to compete at the Macalester College Invite, Saturday, April 29. Last week: The Blue Devils placed third at the Phil Esten Challenge at UW-La Crosse April 21. Track performer of the week: Bridgette Crozier, So, Winona, Minn. Field performer of the week: Char Edwards, Fr, Danbury, Wis. (Webster)

MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will compete as a team at the Simpson College Invitational Friday, April 28. The 4x100-relay team and the sprint medley team will compete at the prestigious Drake Relays, April 27-29. Last week: The Blue Devils placed fourth at the Phil Esten Challenge at UW-La Crosse, April 21. Field performer of the week: Ryan Kawski, Jr, Stevens Point, Wis.

TENNIS
The Blue Devils will be at St. Mary's April 25 and at Martin Luther, May 2.

Softball

MOSINEE VERY, VERY GOOD TO UW-STOUT SATURDAY

MENOMONIE (April 22, 2006) - With only a few hundred yards separating them, a pair of Mosinee natives hit game-winning grand slams within minutes of each other.

Playing for the UW-Stout baseball and softball teams, respectively, Adam Olson and Amanda McKellips accomplished the feat Saturday, April 22 in Menomonie.

Olson, a senior playing his first year of collegiate baseball for the Blue Devils, delivered first, hitting the bases loaded shot to left field at Nelson Field, giving Stout enough cushion for a 7-3 win over Bethel University.

Minutes later, just to the west at Alumni Field, McKellips crushed the ball to left centerfield for a walk-off grand slam to lift Stout to a 5-1 win in the bottom of the seventh inning over Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) foe UW-La Crosse. The home run was the second for McKellips in as many games. She had belted her first collegiate home run April 20 in a 3-2 home win over UW-River Falls.

On the season (after Sunday's doubleheader against UW-Platteville), McKellips is hitting .256 (20-78) with 10 runs scored, two doubles, a triple, two home runs and 14 runs batted in. She has started all 30 games for the Blue Devils, mostly in centerfield.

Olson is hitting .217 (15-69) with 12 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI. Olson, who has played in the infield and as the designated hitter, is also a pitcher with an earned run average of 4.26 in 6.1 innings pitched.

MENOMONIE (April 23, 2006) - After getting roughed up by UW-Platteville, 6-1, in the opener, UW-Stout worked their way to a split in the WIAC doubleheader with the Pioneers by hanging on for a 2-1 in the second game, Sunday at Alumni Field.

The Pioneers (12-20, 7-9) pounded out 13 hits in the first game and scored four runs - three unearned - in the fifth inning to down the Blue Devils (8-22, 3-11). Stout committed four errors in the game, allowing only two earned runs.

Platteville opened the scoring on an RBI by Patty Meoska in the fourth, but Stout answered back in the bottom of the inning when Jackie Juan's (So, La Crosse) fly ball to deep center bounced out of the centerfielder's glove, scoring Kara Martyn (So, Edgar) from second.

The Pioneers added another run in the sixth inning. Pioneer pitcher Katie Larson limited Stout to only three hits and recorded five strikeouts. The Pioneers got three hits from Tera Burr, and two from Nikki Hansen, Maggie Digman, Lindsay Weigand and Becky Swanson.

In the nightcap, Stout overcame four errors to turn the tables on the Pioneers.

Nelly Peterson (Fr, Cumberland) scored from third on a passed ball to give Stout a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Platteville tied the score in the top of the third, taking advantage of two Stout errors in the inning.

Stout got the eventual winning run in the bottom of the third. Beth Lloyd (So, Fond du Lac) led off with a double. Martyn moved Lloyd to third on a sacrifice bunt. Courtney Zafft (Sr, Rochester, Minn) plated Lloyd with a single.

Katie Fichter (Fr, Baraboo), who pitched the final inning in the first game, pitched a complete game to pick up her third win of the season. Fichter stranded nine Platteville runners, including two in the seventh. Fichter recorded three strikeouts and allowed five hits.

Lloyd was 2-for-2 in the game to lead Stout, which recorded six hits. Ashley Strnad was 2-for-4 for the Pioneers.

The Blue Devils will be at St. Scholastica, Thursday, April 27, then will be at UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, April 29 to close out the conference schedule. Stout will wrap up the regular home season Sunday, April 30 when they host Ripon College at 1 p.m. Stout will host the WIAC Tournament, May 5-6.

MENOMONIE (April 22, 2006) - Amanda McKellips' (Fr, Mosinee) walk-off grand slam in the first game lifted UW-Stout to a 5-1 conference win over UW-La Crosse Saturday. The Eagles came back for a 4-1 final game win.

The Blue Devils (7-21, 2-10) spoiled the Eagles' Cassie Huettl no-hitter in the seventh. Trailing 1-0 heading into the final stanza, Kara Martyn (So, Edgar) belted a one-out single. The Eagles misplayed Courtney Zafft's (Sr, Rochester, Minn) infield hit for an error, then followed that up when the centerfield misplayed Jackie Juan's (So, La Crosse) fly ball.

Martyn scored on Nelly Peterson's (Fr, Cumberland) fielder's choice, attempting to make a play at the plate on Martyn. McKellips cleared the bases with a shot over the left centerfield fence.

La Crosse (16-14, 6-6) scored two runs in the top of the first of the second game, both unearned, then added another unearned run in the second inning. La Crosse took a 4-1 lead when Sarah Pfeifer beat out a rundown between home and third base in the fourth inning.

Tara Donahou (Fr, Littlefork, Minn) drove in Stout's only run of the game when she knocked the ball off the bottom of the left field fence to drive in McKellips.

Stout outhit the Eagles in the second game, 10 hits to six.

MENOMONIE (April 20, 2006) - Jackie Juan (So, La Crosse) ripped a hard shot to centerfield in the eighth inning and Kara Martyn (So, Edgar) scored from second as she avoided the tag to give UW-Stout a 3-2 win over UW-River Falls in the second game of a conference doubleheader Thursday at Alumni Field. The Falcons had won the first game, 4-0.

But it was catcher Beth Lloyd's (So, Fond du Lac) lead off home run earlier in the eighth that set the table for Juan.

Lloyd tomahawk-chopped a high and outside ball and muscled the ball over the centerfield fence to lead off the inning for the Blue Devils (6-20, 1-9), who broke a nine-game losing streak. Martyn and Courtney Zafft (Sr, Rochester, Minn) reached on back-to-back singles. Martyn took off on Juan's single and slide around the tag of catcher Ashley James and slapped the plate with her hand to end the game in a pesky, cold rain that started in the sixth inning.

The Falcons (16-14, 2-6) scored first in the third inning when Emily Howlett drove in Mindy Rudiger with a double. Stout answered back in the fourth inning when Amanda McKellips (Fr, Mosinee) crushed her first collegiate home run, carrying the ball over the left centerfield fence.

River Falls took a 2-1 lead in the top of the eighth when Keri Feller drove in Rudiger.

Jessica Glasgow (Fr, St. Paul, Minn) went the distance to pick up her third win of the season, striking out four. Lloyd and Zafft both went 2-for-4 to lead all hitters.

In the opener, River Falls scored two runs in the top of the first, then added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the shutout win as Stout was held to three hits and committed six errors.

Howlett was 2-for-4 and Amanda Wojnowiak was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Ashley Bertrand struck out five to get the win. Megan Donley (Sr, Fridley, Minn) struck out four and was saddled with the loss.

BLUE DEVILS SPLIT CONTESTS WITH BETHEL UNIVERSITY

MENOMONIE (April 22, 2006) - Adam Olson (Sr, Mosinee) hit a grand slam in the fifth inning of the first game to give UW-Stout enough cushion to take a 7-3 win over Bethel University Saturday at Nelson Field. The Royals scored five runs in the fifth inning of the second game to take a 5-4 win.

In the opener, Bethel got on the board first in the third inning when Travis Wermedal hit a solo home run.

Back-to-back singles by Dustin Quinn (So, Rice Lake) and Bryan Vilstrup (So, Frederic) set the stage for a two-run third inning. Luke Schultz (Jr, Menomonie) lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Quinn and Seth Maier (Jr, Park Falls) drove in Vilstrup.

Olson gave the Blue Devils (9-18) the cushion when Quinn and Vilstrup again reached with consecutive singles, then moved on Schultz's ground out. Maier walked and, one batter later, Olson delivered on full count. Stout added another run in the sixth on a single by Vilstrup.

Bethel (12-17) added two consolation runs in the seventh on a two-run home run by Tyler Kramer.

In the second game, the Royals sent eight batters to the plate in the fifth inning. TJ Therrien led off the inning with a home run. Wermedal reached on a walk, then was moved to second on a sacrifice fly. Wermedal came home on Brandon Carr's double. Carr scored on Dan Villas' single, then came home on a two run home run by Kirby Carr.

Stout scored one run in the bottom of the fifth after Matt Krause (So, Bonduel) led off the inning with a double, then scored on Andy Lorenzen's (Fr, Menomonie) force out.

Stout tacked on three runs in the seventh. Eric Paul (So, Wisconsin Rapids) reached on an error, then came home on Schultz' double. Maier cleared the bases with a two-run, two-out homer. Sean Wilson (Fr, Woodbury, Minn) was left stranded after reaching on a pinch-hit single.

Stout returns to action Wednesday, April 26 when they host Augsburg College at 1 p.m.

STEVENS POINT (April 19, 2006) - UW-Stout pitcher Scott Decker (Jr, Eau Claire) extended his scoreless streak to 16-plus inning, but the Blue Devils still came up short as they were swept in a conference doubleheader at UW-Stevens Point, 1-0, 7-5, Wednesday.

Decker worked the first eight innings in the opener, scattering six hits, but shutting the Pointers (16-8, 8-3) down. Decker struck out three and walked three, but stranded six runners and allowed only three runners into scoring position. Decker did not allow a run in the final eight innings of his last outing to begin the streak.

Stout (8-17, 7-9) had only two runners reach second over the first eight innings in this pitchers' dual. The Blue Devils had a runner reach third in the ninth inning, but left him.

After a Stout pitching change, the Pointers loaded bases in the bottom of the ninth and Stewart Larson, the ninth batter in the line up, looped a single down the right field line for the game winner.

Stevens Point finished the game with eight hits to Stout's five. Seth Maier (Jr, Park Falls) was 2-for-3 for Stout, while Ben Warwick was 3-for-4 for the Pointers.

John Englund (Sr, Lakeville, Minn) was tagged with the loss, while the Pointers' Brandon Hemstead went the distance for the win.

In the second game, the Pointers' Ryan Byrnes lofted a three-run home run in the first inning. Stout came back to pull to within one run on a two-run single up the middle by Bryan Vilstrup (So, Frederic).

Stout tagged on three more runs in the third inning after two outs. Nick Klaren (Fr, North St. Paul, Minn) walked, then stole second, then stole third and went home on a throwing error on the play. Tim Schneider (So, West Salem) doubled in a run and Luke Schultz's (Jr, Menomonie) single to center field drove in Schneider.

The Pointers came back with two runs in the fifth after a two-out error opened the door to pull to tie the game at 5-5. Back-to-back singles by the Pointers' Tim Schlosser and Chuck Brehm brought in runs in the eighth for the game winning runs.

The Blue Devils had runners in scoring position in the ninth, but a pickoff play at second base and a strikeout closed the door.

Dustin Quinn (So, Rice Lake) was 2-for-5, while Vilstrup and Schneider were each 2-for-4. For the Pointers, Brehm and Jordan Zimmerman were each 2-for-4 and Byrnes was 2-for-4 with four RBI.

SCOTT DECKER NAMED WIAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK

MENOMONIE (April 18, 2006) - UW-Stout's Scott Decker (Jr, Eau Claire/Memorial) retired 22 consecutive batters and faced only three batters over the minimum in a 9-1 win over UW-Superior on April 13. Decker was named the WIAC pitcher of the week.

Decker, a right-hander, gave up one run and two hits in the first inning, then allowed a walk in the second - which UW-Stout converted into a double play - and did not allow another runner until giving up a ninth inning walk.

In completing his first game of the season, Decker pitched a two-hitter, allowed one earned run, walked two and struck out eight.

EDWARDS QUALIFIES TO NATIONALS, CROZIER WINS 10,000-METER

LA CROSSE (April 21 , 2006) - Char Edwards (Fr, Danbury) provisionally qualified to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and Bridgette Crozier (So, Winona, Minn) won the 10,000 meter run at the Phil Esten Challenge hosted by UW-La Crosse Friday.

Edwards took the high jump with an NCAA provisional qualifying height of 5-feet, 5-inches.

Crozier paced the field in the 10,000 meter run, winning by five seconds in a time of 39-minutes, 9.60-seconds.

Pam Sellberg (Fr, Brooklyn Park, Minn) was second in the pole vault (10-8). Abbey Ring (So, Manitowoc) was third in the 3000-meter steeplechase (12:15.79), Jasmine Patzner (So, Taylor) in the 100-hurdles (15.80), Taylor Mayo (So, Iron River, Mich) and Kelly Schachtner (Fr, Deer Park) was third in the shot put (36-6.25).

As a team, Stout placed fourth.

Phil Esten Challenge
1. UW-La Crosse 301.70; 2. UW-Eau Claire 170.10; 3. Wartburg 85; 4. UW-Stout 81.20; 5. St. Norbert 10; 6. St. Mary's 4.

High jump: 1. Char Edwards (Stout) 5-5p; 3. Taylor Mayo 4-10.50; 7. Camelle Meyer, Carrie Peterson 4-9; Pole vault: 1. Stephanie Barnes (EC) 12-4.50; 2. Pam Sellberg 10-8; 7. Tabitha Blanchard 9-2.25; Long jump: 1. Sarah Thayer (LX) 18-0; 7. Nikki Sims 16-1; 17. Erin Berg 13-1; Triple jump: 1. Sarah Thayer (LX) 38-0; 5. Sam Strunk 33-0; 10. Erin Berg 32-0; 13. Katie Kronebusch 30-0; 18. Tessa Rohl 30-0; Shot put: 1. Brooke Schmidt (EC) 38-7.75; 3. Kelly Schachtner 36-6.25; 9. Christa Leesman 28-11.25; Discus: 1. Paula Crossfield (EC) 142-1; 10. Christa Leesman 102-1; 11. Alyssa Klinkenberg 94-10; 13. Kelly Schachtner 84-4; Hammer: 1. Christy Birkholz (LX) 152-7; 5. Kelly Schachtner 114-2; 7. Alyssa Klinkenberg 106-3; 10. Christa Leesman 88-1; Javelin: 1. Talia Williams (LX) 101-9; 7. Nikki Sims 86-3; 8. Taylor Mayo 86-2; 9. Camelle Meyer 83-7; 10. Sam Strunk 79-9; 14. Carrie Peterson 74-11.

Men's Track & Field

KAWSKI, AMENT TAKE TOP SPOTS IN THE DISCUS; KAWSKI QUALIFIES

LA CROSSE (April 21, 2006) - Ryan Kawski (Jr, Stevens Point) and Ryan Ament (Fr, Grand Meadow, Minn) finished first and second, respectively in the discus at the Phil Esten Challenge hosted by UW-La Crosse Friday and Kawski hit the NCAA provisional qualifying distance.

Kawski easily outpaced the rest of the field with a toss of 165-feet, 6-inches, only eight feet short of the school record. Ament surpassed his collegiate best with a throw of 149-2.

Matt Delaney (Sr, Ham Lake, Minn) was second in the javelin (157-4) as the Blue Devils placed fourth as a team.

Wendell Eskridge (So, Milwaukee) had two third place finishes - in the 100 meter (11.16) and in the 200-meter (22.50). The Blue Devils also got third place finishes from: Mark Kempen (Sr, Kaukauna) in the 800-meter (1:58.93); Kendall Wade (Fr, Milwaukee) in the 110-hurdles (16.42); and Derek Gonzenbach (Jr, Milbanks, SD) in the 400-hurdles (54.19).

High jump: 1. Kyle Peters (Wart) 6-0.75; Pole vault: 1.Matt Novak (LX) 17-0.75; Long jump: 1. Jessie Dengsavang (LX) 21-0; 9. Matt Delaney 19-0; 11. Garret Fletch 19-0; Triple jump: 1. Mike Dana (Wart) 46-0; 7. Zak Germo 40-0; 8. Garett Fletch 40-0; 9. Bakari Williams 37-0; Shot put: 1. Luke Kimlinger (LX) 49-4.50; 8. Jon Wolf 41-11.25; 9. Eric Peplinski 41-5.75; 10. Zach Schaefer 41-0.75; 11. Ben Corcoran 40-10.25; 12. Andrew Berlin 39-8.75; Discus: 1. Ryan Kawski (Stout) 165-6; 2. Ryan Ament 149-2; 4.Andrew Berlin 140-9; 10. Sean Larson 125-5; 11. Jon Wolf 116-6; Hammer: 1. Al Oleson (EC) 171-9; 4. Ryan Kawski 158-2; 9. Ryan Ament 122-6; 10. Darren Izdepski 115-1; Javelin: 1. Bronson Stelzer (LX) 199-0; 2. Matt Delaney 157-4; 5. Brad Hoerth 142-4; 6. Jon Wolf 137-10; 7. Andy Smith 131-3.

RHIAN PAULSON EARNS STOUT MOST VALUABLE GYMNAST AWARD

MENOMONIE (April 23, 2006) - Rhian Paulson (Sr, Stillwater, Minn) earned her first two All-America awards and was named UW-Stout's most valuable gymnast, first year coach Becky Beaulieu announced Sunday at the team's annual awards banquet.

Paulson placed 10th in the all-around at the NCGA Championships to earn All-America awards, then finished third on the floor exercise the following day. She also set a school record of 9.55 on the vault to break her own mark.

Paulson earned All-WIAC awards in the all-around and on the vault. Paulson leaves the Blue Devil program holding four school records - vault (9.55), uneven bars (9.225), floor exercise (9.80) and the all-around (37.10).

Shanna Kissinger (Sr, Sioux City, Iowa/West) was named the Most Dedicated, Caitlin McCormick (Fr, Manitowoc/Lutheran) received the Most Inspirational award and Kelly Claussen (Fr, Watertown, Minn/Watertown-Mayer) the Most Improved.

Captains for 2006-07 are Cassie Glover (Fr, DePere) and Ashley Timm (So, Eden Prairie, Minn).

Updated: April 24, 2006