National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2008
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The NCAA News
Wisconsin-Eau Claire senior Jill Janke hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Blugolds a 4-3 win over Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival Wisconsin-Whitewater May 19 in the final game of the Division III Softball Championship in Salem, Virginia.
“What a ballgame,” said Eau Claire coach Leslie Huntington. “I couldn’t be more proud of our kids. These players have been resilient; they’ve hung together all year. I told them today that in the last two weeks especially they have had one heartbeat and they kept that one heartbeat today and won Eau Claire a national championship. This is amazing!”
The fourth-seeded Blugolds, who recorded a 36-11 campaign, made their way to the championship game by knocking out top-ranked Louisiana College earlier in the day, 2-1.
Janke’s homer was her sixth on the season and Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s first of the tournament, even though the Blugolds had hit 37 before.
“I walked up to the plate and I felt really good... I felt really confident,” Janke said after her game-winning blast. “I had this feeling as soon as we ran in from getting that third out (in the top of the frame), that this was the inning, this was when we were going to end it. I swung and hit and thought, ‘Just get out of here!’”
The Blugolds rallied from a 3-1 deficit with two outs and nobody on in their half of the seventh. Three straight singles, the last by Tamara Zeman, plated a run to make it 3-2, the an error on a fielder’s choice allowed the tying run to score moments later.
Wisconsin-Whitewater (39-11) scored once in the second inning and added two in the fifth on Suzanne Gersich’s 13th homer of the season. The roundtripper was the Warhawks’ 68th, a school and WIAC record and second all-time in NCAA Division III history. St. Thomas (Minnesota) hit 72 in 2006.
Eau Claire’s Jenny Ross picked up the win, upping her mark to 27-2 and extending the Blugolds’ longest winning streak of the season to eight, all of which Ross has started. She pitched all nine innings and gave up three runs on eight hits, fanning six. In the Blugolds’ four games during the championship series, Ross allowed 20 hits and five runs in 29 innings with 16 strikeouts.
Jessica Stang pitched the entire game for the Warhawks, giving up four runs on 10 hits with six Ks. She finished her freshman season with a record of 16-6.
2008 NCAA Division III Softball Championship All-Tournament Team
Catcher: Kari Hoying, Muskingum
First Base: Caitlin Ryan, Ithaca
Second Base: Casey Leisgang, Wis.-Eau Claire
Third Base: Michelle Butkus, Wis.-Eau Claire
Shortstop: Ashleigh Clement, Louisiana Col.
Outfield: Lauren Cruz, Wis.-Whitewater
Outfield: Amy Gahl, Wis.-Whitewater
Outfield: Suzanne Gersich, Wis.-Whitewater
Pitcher: Jenny Ross, Wis.-Eau Claire
Pitcher: Jessica Stang, Wis.-Whitewater
Designated/Utility Player: McCaslin Carson, Louisiana Col.
At-Large: Katie Stalker, Wis.-Eau Claire
At-Large: Amanda LeBeau, Wis.-Whitewater
At-Large: Emily Ringen, Cortland St.
At-Large: Jill Janke, Wis.-Eau Claire
Game 1
Louisiana Col. 1, Rhode Island Col. 0
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Rhode Island Col. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Louisiana Col. |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
1 |
5 |
1 |
Melanie Neece and Jeanne Rosa; McCaslin Carson and Erica Harwell. W – Carson; L – Neece. HR – Carson (Louisiana Col.).
Game 2
Cortland St. 5, Wis.-Whitewater 4
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
3 |
|
Cortland St. |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
2 |
Jessica Stang and Liz Yucuis; Katie Finch and Amanda Barnett. W – Finch; L – Stang.
Game 3
Wis.-Eau Claire 8, Ithaca 0 (6 inn.)
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Ithaca |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
0 |
Carly Myers, Alyssa Brook (6) and Stacy Pelesz; Jenny Ross and Bekki Kidnie. W – Ross; L – Myers.
Game 4
Muskingum 1, Lynchburg 0
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Muskingum |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
|
Lynchburg |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
Amy Mattin and Kari Hoying; Katie Bruce and Kirstin Swank. W – Mattin; L – Bruce.
Game 5
Wis.-Whitewater 4, Rhode Island Col. 1
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
x |
4 |
7 |
1 |
|
Rhode Island Col. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
Jenna Deveines, Melanie Neece (2) and Jeanne Rosa; Jessica Stang and Liz Yucuis. W – Stang; L – Deveines.
Game 6
Ithaca 4, Lynchburg 0
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Lynchburg |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
|
Ithaca |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
X |
4 |
6 |
0 |
Nicole Cade and Stacy Pelesz; Katie Bruce, Barbara Miles (6) and Kirstin Swank. W – Cade; L – Bruce.
Game 7
Louisiana Col. 3, Cortland St. 1
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Cortland St. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
|
Louisiana Col. |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
X |
3 |
6 |
0 |
Katie Finch and Amanda Barnett; Kelly Williams and Erica Harwell. W – Williams; L – Finch.
Game 8
Wis.-Eau Claire 5, Muskingum 1
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
0 |
|
Muskingum |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Jenny Ross and Bekki Kidnie; Amy Mattin, Heather Martin (6) and Kari Hoying. W – Ross; L – Mattin.
Game 9
Ithaca 8, Cortland St. 1
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Cortland St. |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
Ithaca |
0 |
0 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
X |
8 |
8 |
1 |
Katie Finch, Maria Carucci (5), Erin Brain (6) and Amanda Barnett; Carly Myers and Stacy Pelesz. W – Myers; L – Finch. HR – Emily Ringen (Cortland St.).
Game 10
Wis.-Whitewater 5, Muskingum 3
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
|
Muskingum |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
Nicole Schulty, Jessica Stang (2) and Liz Yucuis; Amy Mattin, Heather Martin (3) and Kari Hoying. W – Stang; L – Mattin. HR – Amy Gahl (Wis.-Whitewater).
Game 11
Wis.-Eau Claire 2, Louisiana Col. 1
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Louisiana Col. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
X |
2 |
6 |
1 |
Rene Schwartzenburg and Erica Harwell; Jenny Ross and Bekki Kidnie. W – Ross; L – Schwartzenburg.
Game 12
Wis.-Whitewater 4, Ithaca 0
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Ithaca |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
X |
4 |
6 |
0 |
Carly Myers and Stacy Pelesz; Jessica Stang and Liz Yucuis. W – Stang; L – Myers.
Game 13
Wis.-Whitewater 2, Louisiana Col. 1
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
Louisiana Col. |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
X |
2 |
4 |
0 |
McCaslin Carson and Erica Harwell; Jessica Stang and Liz Yucuis. W – Stang; L – Carson. HR – Suzanne Gersich (Wis.-Whitewater).
Championship game
Wis.-EauClaire 4 Wis.-Whitewater 3
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
PO |
A |
|
Amy Gahl, cf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Ashley Smith 2b |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
2 |
|
Suzanne Gersich, rf |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Lauren Cruz, lf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
Amanda LeBeau, ss |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
Meghann Brennfleck, 1b |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
1 |
|
Lauren Rankins, 3b |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
|
Liz Yucuis, c |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
|
Angie Kelm, dp. |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jessica Stang, p |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Totals |
33 |
3 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
26 |
17 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
BB |
SO |
PO |
A |
|
Casey Leisgang, 2b |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
|
Tamara Zeman, rf |
5 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Jill Janke, 1b |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
12 |
0 |
|
Sarah Baumgartner, pr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Michelle Butkus, 3b |
4 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
|
Jenny Ross, p |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
Kristi Doucette, dp |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Bekki Kidnie, c |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
|
Katie Stalker, ss |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Betsy Kettinger, lf |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
Meghan O’Hearn, cf/pr |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Totals |
34 |
4 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
27 |
12 |
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
2 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
10 |
0 |
Note: 2 outs, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.
E – LeBeau. LOB - Wis.-Whitewater 5; Wis.-Eau Claire 9. HR – Gersich; Janke. SH -
Brennfleck 2; Leisgang; Ross.
|
Wis.-Whitewater |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
AB |
BF |
|
Jessica Stang |
8.2 |
10 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
34 |
39 |
|
Wis.-Eau Claire |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
AB |
BF |
|
Jenny Ross |
9.0 |
8 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
33 |
35 |
W – Ross; L - Stang. Pitches/strikes: Stang 161/106; Ross 101/71.
Umpires - HP: Cathy Creighton 1B: Diane Carden 3B: Kim Johnson
Time: 2:04 Attendance: 176