SOFTBALL
The Blue Devils (13-7, 0-0) hit the road this week before Easter, traveling to Hamline University (12-5), Tuesday, April 6, and will open the conference schedule Thursday, April 8 at UW-River Falls (12-6, 0-2). Last week: Stout split on both days of the Augustana Tournament over the weekend, downing St. Ambrose, 7-2, but losing to Ripon, 4-3, on the first day. Stout took eight innings to nip the host school, 2-1, but then fell, 10-8, on the second day. Player of the week: Kim Caswell, Sr, Stanley, Wis. (Stanley-Boyd); Pitcher of the week: Megan Donley, So, Fridley, Minn

BASEBALL
The Blue Devils (1-12, 1-5) begin a nine-date homestand this week when they host St. Scholastica (15-2), Tuesday, April 6 at 1 p.m., then conference rival UW-Whitewater (13-4, 6-0), Thursday, April 8 at 1 p.m. and again Friday, April 9 at noon. Last week: The Blue Devils picked up their first win of the season in splitting a doubleheader at LaCrosse, March 31, winning the opener, 13-9, but dropping the second game, 8-3. Stout lost four games to UW-Oshkosh over the weekend, 25-7, 22-8, 13-9, 6-2. Player of the week: Jim Foreman, Sr, Apple Valley, Minn.

GYMNASTICS
The Blue Devils closed out the season at the NCGA Championships where Rhian Paulson set a school record on the floor exercise (9.80) but did not advance to the finals.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils will be at the Gustavus Adolphus Invitational, Friday, April 9. Last week: Stout competed at the Washington University Invitational, April 3, in St. Louis, Mo., and knocked off school records in the long jump, hammer throw, pole vault and steeplechase. Track athlete of the week: Tracy Oostdyk, Sr, Spooner, Wis. (Shell Lake); Field athlete of the week: Laura Verdegan, Jr, Tony, Wis. (Flambeau)

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD
The Blue Devils open the outdoor season, Friday, April 9 when they travel to UW-La Crosse to participate in the Phil Esten Challenge. Last week: The Blue Devils opened the outdoor season at the Washington University Invitational, April 3, in St. Louis, Mo. Track athlete of the week: Craig Kotsmith, Fr, Foreston, Minn. (Milaca). Field athlete of the week: Ryan Kawski, Fr, Stevens Point, Wis.

Softball

April 3, 2004

The Blue Devils (13-7) won the first game, 2-1, in the bottom of the eighth, but lost the second game 10-8.

Stout surrendered their only run of the first game in the top of the first, then allowed the Vikings (18-4) to scatter nine hits throughout the game.

Stout tied the score in the sixth inning when Angie Kliber (So, Swanville, Minn) reached on an error, advanced to second on a groundout, was sacrificed to third, then scored when Kaela Wold (Jr, Altoona) reached on a two-out error.

Pitcher Megan Donley (So, Fridley, Minn) did not allow a hit in the final two innings.

Courtney Zafft (So, Rochester, Minn), who was placed on second base to start the eighth due to the international tiebreaker rule, was moved to third by Heather Novalany's (Jr, Cottage Grove, Minn) sacrifice bunt, then came home on Justine Lehman's (Fr, Luck) sacrifice fly to center field.

After falling behind 10-2 in the second game, Stout rallied for two runs in the sixth on RBIs by Jamie Gorges (Jr, New London) and Zafft.

Donley, who surrendered only five earned runs, held the Vikings scoreless in the top of the seventh as the Blue Devils trailed, 10-4.

With two outs, Kim Caswell (Sr, Stanley), Melissa Coon (So, Cudahy) and Wold delivered consecutive singles, with Wold bringing home Caswell. Coon scored when Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona) was safe on an error. Gorges slashed a two-run double to end the scoring.

Stout will be at Hamline University, Tuesday, April 6 and at UW-River Falls, Thursday, April 8.

April 2, 2004

ROCK ISLAND, Ill - Kim Caswell (Sr, Stanley) smacked out a lead off home run, then hit a two-run shot in the second inning as the UW-Stout softball team defeated St. Ambrose University, 7-2, in the opening game of the Augustana Tournament, Friday, April 2 in Rock Island, Ill. The Blue Devils then dropped their second game, a 4-3 decision to Ripon College.

Caswell opened the tournament with the homer, then gave Stout a 3-0 lead in the second. Jamie Gorges (Jr, New London) drove in a run in the fifth. Stout (12-6) pounded the ball around in the sixth inning, scoring three times to take a 7-0 lead. Kaela Wold (Jr, Altoona) drove in a run, and Erin O'Connell (Jr, Altoona) followed with a two-run double. The Bees scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to spoil the shutout bid.

In the second game, Stout scored first on a Courtney Zafft (So, Rochester, Minn) double in the fourth, then came back when Melissa Coon (So, Cudahy) drove in a run in the fifth.

Ripon picked up three runs - two unearned - in the bottom half of the fifth. Stout countered with another run in the sixth to tie the score, this one on a sacrifice fly by Angie Kliber (So, Swanville, Minn). Ripon got the winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

April 4, 2004

OSHKOSH - UW-Stout continued to rip UW-Oshkosh pitching, but could not get enough runs across as the Titans swept a conference twinbill, 13-9, 6-2, Sunday, April 4.

Stout pounded out 19 hits in the opener, but Oshkosh scored in every inning for the win. Stout jumped out to a 4-2 lead after two innings. The Titans caugh up in the fourth and went ahead for good in the fifth.

The Blue Devils' (1-12, 1-5) Jake Riek (Jr, Boyceville) hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to highlight Stout's hitting attack. Stout's hit total was the most against the Titans this season in a single game.

Oshkosh (14-2, 5-1) scored twice in both the first and third innings for all the runs they would really need. The Blue Devils' Greg Meinertz (Jr, La Crosse) hit his second home run of the season, a solo shot in the first. Meinertz was 5-for-9 on the day with three RBI.

April 3, 2004

UW-Stout laced UW-Oshkosh pitching all day long, but came up short to the Titans, losing 25-7, 22-8, in a conference doubleheader Saturday, April 3 at Oshkosh. Both games were seven inning affairs.

Aided by a wind blowing out of Tiedemann Field, the Titans (12-2, 3-1) knocked Stout (1-10, 1-3) pitching for 23 hits in the opener and 14 in the final game. Stout stranded nine runners in each of the games.

In the opener, Oshkosh ran out to an 11 run lead before Stout scored three in the fourth inning. Greg Meinertz (Jr, La Crosse) led off the inning with a home run, and Nate Stafford (Jr, Eau Claire) drove in his first of two runs.

In the second contest, Stout jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead, as Stout took advantage of an error and a passed ball. The Titans scored two in the bottom half of their inning, and Stout added another in the second to go up 4-2.

The two teams will meet again, Sunday, April 4. Stout will host St. Scholastica, Tuesday, April 6 and UW-Whitewater, April 8 and 9.

March 31, 2004

The Eagles rebounded to avoid the sweep, taking an 8-3 win in the nightcap.

Trailing 8-5 after scoring five runs in the seventh inning, Todd Brunclik (So, Birchwood) delivered a two-run single to left field, Nick Ziegler (So, Plymouth, Minn) and Corey Endreas (Sr, Spencer) each plated a run and Jim Foreman (Sr, Apple Valley, Minn) smashed out a three-run home run to left field to account for the seven run outburst.

In the previous inning, Tim Nielsen (So, Rosemount, Minn) opened the stanza with an RBI single up the middle. Nate Stafford (Jr, Eau Claire) clipped a two-run double to left field and Brunclik and Ziegler each drove in a run to pull Stout to within 8-5.

Stout (1-8, 1-1) got their final run in the ninth inning when Brunclik completed his four RBI night with a sacrifice fly. Brunclik was only 1-for-5 at the plate, his only hit coming in the eighth.

The Eagles (4-10, 1-1) chased two Stout pitchers, getting single runs in the first and fifth and two runs in the second, third and sixth.

Dan Olson (Fr, Eau Claire) pitched the final three inning to notch his first collegiate win, allowing a single run - a lead-off home run in the eighth - struck out five of the 14 batters he faced, walked two and allowed three hits.

In the nightcap, Stout took a 1-0 lead when Foreman singled in Endreas, then jumped out to a 2-1 lead when Greg Meinertz (Jr, La Crosse) drove in Brunclik.

The Eagles cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the third, then took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the sixth. Stout's final run came in the seventh when Jon Kroening (Sr, Ladysmith) scored on an outfield error.

La Crosse took command of the contest with four runs in the eighth. La Crosse outhit Stout, 11-5.

April 2, 2004

CAMBRIDGE, Mass - Even a school record on the floor exercise was not enough to advance UW-Stout's Rhian Paulson (So, Stillwater, Minn) to the final round of the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) championships, Friday, April 2, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Mass.

Paulson scored a 9.80 to place in a seven-way tie for 15th place. The top 12 competitors advance to the final round. Four were tied for 11th place. Carrie Santore of SUNY-Brockport scored a 9.925 to lead the tight-knit group.

Women's Track & Field

April 3, 2004

ST. LOUIS, Mo - Four UW-Stout school records fell as the Blue Devils opened the outdoor track and field season at the Washington University Invitational, Saturday, April 3 in St. Louis, Mo.

Laura Verdegan (Jr, Tony) won both the long jump and triple jump and broke the school record in the long jump, leaping 18-feet, 6.50-inches, breaking her own record by three inches. Verdegan jumped 38-9.75 in the triple jump. Both distances were NCAA Division III provisional qualifying distances.

Verdegan just missed a provisional qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles, where she placed second in a time of 64.83 seconds.

Marci Schachtner (Jr, Deer Park) broke the school record in the hammer throw in placing second with a distance of 161-3, breaking her own mark by seven feet. The mark was a provisional qualifying distance.

Tracy Oostdyk (Sr, Spooner) broke her own school record by four seconds in the 3000-meter steeplechase in a time of 11:49.49 in placing second.

Liana Frisch (Fr, Madelia, Minn) snapped the school record in the pole vault by six inches. Frisch, who also holds the indoor pole vault record, broke Andi Schwabenlender's two-year-old mark when she vaulted 9-6.25 and finished seventh.

Ann Schachtner (Jr, Somerset) placed second in the shot put with a provisional qualifying distance of 42-8.

High jump: 1. Nicole Bonner (Florissant) 5-5; 8. Carrie Petersen 4-9; 8. Camelle Meyer 4-9; 16. Becky Monyhan 4-7; 21. Ramona Vann 4-5; Pole vault: 1. Karolien Bastiaens (St. Thomas) 11-9.75; 7. Liana Frisch 9-6.25*; 12. Molly Klinger 8-0; Long jump: 1. Laura Verdegan (Stout) 18-6.50*p; 15. Ramona Vann 15-1.75; 19. Sam Strunk 14-6.75; Triple jump: 1. Laura Verdegan (Stout) 38-9.75p; 10. Sam Strunk 32-9.75; Shot put: 1. Callie Glover (SIUE) 44-4.75; 2. Ann Schachtner 42-8; 13. Bonnie Nutt 36-6.75; Discus: 1. Diane Slinden (unattached) 154-3; 12. Ann Schachtner 115-9; 19. Kim Randt 106-3; 23. Bonnie Nutt 103-3; Marci Schachtner DNF; Hammer throw: 1. Kristina Muller (unattached) 186-8; 2. Marci Schachtner 161-3*p; 15. Bonnie Nutt 123-1; 17. Kim Randt 119-6.

Men's Track & Field

April 3, 2004

ST. LOUIS, Mo - UW-Stout's Ryan Kawski (Fr, Stevens Point) placed second in the discus in his first collegiate meet as the Blue Devils opened the outdoor track and field season at the Washington University Invitational, Saturday, April 3 in St. Louis, Mo.

Kawski threw the discus 150-feet, 1-inch in his collegiate debut. Kawski did not compete during the indoor season.

Placing fourth were Jason Geiger (Fr, Grantsburg) in the pole vault (14-6), Craig Kotsmith (Fr, Foreston, Minn) in the 400-meter dash (49.05) and Dave Hanson (Sr, Sun Prairie) in the 400-meter high hurdles (54.31).

Washington University Invitational
(Individual scores, first place, all Stout finishers)
100: 1. Linus Etti (GMTC) 10.83; 23. Steve Wenhardt 11.52; 27. Sam Werner, Dustin Berglin 11.61; 32. Brad Hoerth 11.69; 200: Tony Bowers (Florissant) 21.98; 21. Steve Wenhardt 23.20; 22. Dustin Berglin 23.21; 23. Aaron Santama 23.25; 34. Sam Werner 23.72; 400: 1. Montez Pride (Forissant) 48.29; 4. Craig Kotsmith 49.05; 14. Matt Schlough 50.82; 800: Blake Boldon (Unattached) 1:56.27; 27. John Maresh 2:03.82; 35. Scott Barthel 2:04.90; 45. Mark Kempen 2:06.15; 1500: 1. Blake Boldon (Unattached) 3:58.39; 24. Mark Kempen 4:16.23; 31. Brett Heimstead 4:19.05; 43. Dan Yudchitz 4:23.78; 51. Nate Haeny 4:32.42; 62. Jon Gallo 5:21.68; 5000: 1. Alan Heincker (Truman) 14:51.65; 10. Dave Huber 15:37.10; 35. Ryan Chernik 16:25.05; 3000-steeplechase: Darius Viet (Wash U) 9:23.39; 13. Nate Lynch 10:27.64; 19. John Ullrich 10:44.91; 110-hurdles: 1. Dave Skibu (Wash U) 14.80; 400-hurdles: 1. Glen Wilburn (Unattached) 52.83; 4. Dave Hanson 54.31; 17. Derek Gonzenbach 58.88; 4x100-relay: 1. Greater Milwaukee Track Club 41.28; 10. Stout 44.26; 16. Stout B 46.67; 4x400-relay: 1. Florissant 3:15.98; 6. Stout 3:22.65; 21. Stout B 3:35.04;

Pole vault: 1. Ryker Jones (Wash U) 15-5.75; 4. Jason Geiger 14-6; 7. Nick Neuman 4.27; 9. Nick Onesti 13-5.75; 12. Pat Doty 13-5.75; 13. Joe Cook 12-11.75; 15. Andy Smith 12-11.75; Long jump: 1. Quincy Maggit (GMTC) 23-5.25; Triple jump: 1. Ken Hunt (GMTC) 49-9.25; 9. Ryan Carpenter 44-4; 16. Zak Germo 42-4.75; Shot put: 1. Lee Weeden (SIUE) 49-4.50; 9. Chad Kingsbury 44-8.75; 24. Ryan Kawski 39-6.75; 26. Dewey Josephson 38-11; Discus: 1. Pete Ringquist (WW) 159-11; 2. Ryan Kawski 150-1; 7. Travis Hoffman 139-0; 15. Chad Kingsbury 123-0; 35. Dewey Josephson 106-5; Hammer throw: 1. Jeremy Wendt (WW) 216-5.

Updated: April 5, 2004