APRIL 6 COLLEGE

NFCA SCOREBOARD

TOP 25 GAME NOTES AND SCORES

Michigan, Central Michigan Split.  The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan softball team dropped the first game of a doubleheader today (April 6) at Central Michigan 5-4 before gaining a split with a 7-3 win in the nightcap on the shoulders of two home runs from Jessica Merchant. She drilled a two-run shot in the first inning and a three-run shot in the second, but could have used one of those two in the seventh inning of game one when she grounded out to shortstop to end the game with the tying run standing on second base.

Merchant is now within two home runs of the single-season school record of 15 that she set last season. Alessandra Giampaolo singled ahead of Merchant's two-run blast to give the Wolverines an early 2-0 lead in the nightcap, and added a home run in the seventh inning of game two.  Merchant then gave the Wolverines an almost insurmountable lead with a two-out, three-run bomb in the second. The lead was safe particularly with the way Lorilyn Wilson was throwing as she struck out five and allowed just two harmless singles through four innings.  Michigan coach Carol Hutchins wanted to get some more work for Nicole Motycka, who started game one, and brought her out of the pen in the fifth. After a scoreless fifth, trouble brewed for Motycka much the way it did in game one. An error by Motycka in the circle as well as a hit batsman and a passed ball opened the door for three CMU runs on just two hits in the sixth. Hutchins was forced to call on ace Jennie Ritter to close out the sixth with a strikeout and then tossed a perfect seventh with two more K's.  Wilson got the W.  Jill DeRoche was the loser. 

Game One. While Hutchins wanted to give Ritter the day off before going into Big Ten action this weekend, the Wolverines needed her contribution after dropping the opener, thanks in large part to three errors behind Motycka. She allowed four unearned runs and four hits before being pulled with one out in the third.  She set the side down in order in the first, striking out two, but ran into trouble in the second. After a single and hit batsman to open the inning, Motycka hurt her own cause with a throwing error on a bunt attempt that resulted in the game's first run. Two outs later, an RBI single brought home a second unearned run. Michigan's offensive support was missing as well after Haas led off the game with a single. Michigan did not get another hit until Haas came through again with one out in the sixth and set the table for a Michigan rally. By this time, however, the Wolverines were down 4-0 after two more Michigan errors had led to two more CMU runs in the fourth.

Giampaolo followed Haas with a single and after Merchant was hit by a pitch for the third time this season, the bases were loaded. Samantha Findlay added to her team-best 35 RBI with a two-run double. Another two-run double after two were out from Grace Leutele and it looked like Michigan could avoid the upset.

Wilson had come out of the bullpen to close out the fourth and produced a 1-2-3 fifth, but relinquished the lead in the sixth when the Chippewas executed perfectly. A single to right by Amy Hudson, a sacrifice and a single to centerfield by Christin Sobeck produced the game-winner. Rebekah Milian did make things interesting in the seventh with a leadoff single and moved to second with one out, but Giampaolo struck out and Merchant grounded out to short.  Wilson took the loss in relief.  Jill DeRoche won game one in relief of Jessica Garvin.

Michigan goes back on the road this weekend with single games at Wisconsin on Friday (April 8, 6 p.m. CDT) and Saturday (April 9, noon CDT) and a doubleheader at Minnesota on Sunday (April 10, noon CDT).

Arizona 1, Arizona State 0.  The second-ranked Arizona Wildcats (29-3, 3-1 Pac-10) scored the only run of the game in the top of the first inning as they edged 17th-ranked Arizona State (26-10, 1-3 Pac-10), 1-0, Wednesday night in front of 1,094 fans at Farrington Stadium. UA’s Alicia Hollowell (18-2) pitched a great game giving up only two hits with 15 strikeouts.  ASU Katie Burkhart (10-5) pitched an excellent game allowing only four hits and one unearned run with six strikeouts and no walks. Burkhart lowered her ERA to 0.75 and the opponent’s batting average to .132. UA scored the only run of the game in the top of first inning off two ASU errors. Caitlin Lowe reached first on a catching error by first baseman Sharee Zaleski. Lowe hit a ground ball to shortstop Rhiannon Baca, but Zaleski dropped the ball as it came to first. Lowe then attempted to steal second, but catcher Heidi Kanbe’s throw to second was wild, hitting Lowe’s foot as it went all the way to the center field fence scoring Lowe.

ASU had its only good chance to get the run back off Hollowell in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Valerie Sevilla hit her team-leading and Pac-10 leading 11 double down the right field line. Sevilla then moved third on a Hollowell wild pitch, but Knabe struck out swinging to end the threat.

Up next, the Sun Devils will host 25th-ranked Oregon on Friday at 7:00 p.m

California sweeps St Mary’s.  Senior Kelly Anderson threw a no-hitter in game No. 2 and junior Kristina Thorson allowed two hits and struck out nine in the opener as the No. 3 California softball team swept a doubleheader from Saint Mary's, 10-0 in six innings and 10-0 in five innings, Wednesday at Levine-Fricke Field. The no-hitter was the fifth of Anderson's Cal career and her second this season. Anderson (18-1), who no-hit North Carolina March 26, struck out six Gaels and walked two. After walking Saint Mary's right fielder Bronwyn Russell to lead off the game, Anderson set down 11 straight Gaels, including striking out the side in the first inning. Anderson received all the support she would need on second baseman Jessica Pamanian's first-inning double that scored left fielder Lindsay James and third baseman Vicky Galindo. The Bears scored runs in each of the four innings they batted, closing the game early on the eight-run rule. Ten different Bears collected hits, six Cal player collected RBIs and five had doubles.

In the opener, catcher Haley Woods' three-run homer invoked the eight-run rule and capped a six-run sixth inning. Game No. 1 was scoreless until the third, when an error by SMC second baseman Staci Hamaguchi on Pamanian's single plated James from second. In the third, a two-out single from Galindo scored first baseman Julie Meyer and shortstop Chelsea Spencer. Galindo would later reach home on an error by Russell for a 4-0 Cal advantage. Thorson (14-3) retired the final 10 batters she faced. Between Thorson and Anderson, no Gael baserunner reached past second base.

Cal (31-4) resumes Pac-10 action April 8 against No. 20 Washington at 3 p.m. at Levine-Fricke Field.

Texas 3, Texas A&M 0. Cat Osterman hurled a 2-hitter with 16Ks to stymie the powerful Aggie offense.  Chez Sievers supplied the offense with 2 rbi’s on 3-3 hitting.  The Longhorns scored all their runs in the bottom of the 2^nd.  Only one run off Aggie ace Amanda Scarborough was earned.  She gave up eight hits, striking out 5.  Scarborough and Rocky Spencer had the only hits off Osterman.  Cat notched 12 of her Ks against the first six batters in the Aggie lineup, eight against the first four in their 1 at-bats.  In the 2^nd, Rachael Cook singled. Megan Willis reached on an error; Christina Gwyn singled.  Cook scorerd on an error in center field.  McKayla Padilla singled.  Amber Hall reached on a fielder’s choice, then Sievers singled down the left field line.

Tennessee  Saturday Auburn

Texas A&M   Lost to Texas, 3-0

Oklahoma run-rules Oklahoma State.  The No. 6 Oklahoma softball team (37-6, 5-0) turned a tight game into a blowout with a seven-run sixth inning that clinched a run-rule (six innings), 9-0, victory over Oklahoma State (27-12, 2-3) in the opening round of  Bedlam on Wednesday night. The Sooners took solo possession of first place in the Big 12 with the win, which is their 30th consecutive at home and the fifth straight against the Pokes.“The score did not tell the story of this game,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso.  “This team stayed patient (against Marjorie Johnson) and took advantage of the opportunity in the fifth inning (2 runs).  That first run opened things up and when they put (reliever Jessica) Hoppock in, we knew what to expect and you could see that in the results.”

Oklahoma manufactured a pair of runs in the fifth inning. After a pair of walks and double steal of Johnson, Sooner freshman Tayl’r Hollis was able to drive in pinch runner Jade Prather with the games’ initial run on a fielder’s choice.  The second run came on their first hit of the game. The run was manufactured by the speed of Norrelle Dickson, who beat out a bouncer to short that plated pinch-runner Amber Spaulding.

After getting just one hit and two runs off OSU freshman phenom Marjorie Johnson, the Sooners open the flood gates in the sixth inning.  Sophomore Jamie Fox began the rally with two-RBI double.  Freshman Alison Horne put the advantage at 5-0 with her first career double. USA Softball Player of the Year Finalist, Kristin Vesely, notched her first hit of the game in the sixth to plate the Sooners sixth  run. Then fellow POY Finalist Jessica Leslie sealed the run-rule victory with a three run homer to left field.  For Leslie it gives her the team lead in HR (7) and improves her Big 12 leading RBI total to 48.  All seven of the sixth inning runs were credited to Hoppock, who worked 0.2 innings and allowed seven runs (two earned).  Johnson was the hard luck loser after allowing two earned runs on one hit, while also striking out and walking four.

Senior Kami Keiter’s eighth shutout of the season was overshadowed by the late offense.  She improved to 20-3 on the year, which clinches her third consecutive 20-win season, with the complete game three hitter.

OU claimed the top spot in the Big 12 when No. 7 Texas A&M (34-3, 5-1) loss to No. 4 Texas (29-5, 4-1) by a score of 3-0 in Austin tonight.

The Sooners will get their shot at the Longhorns this weekend.  The first game is set for Noon on Saturday and the finale will be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday.  Both games will be televised the CSTV and broadcast by OU radio.

Baylor 10, Texas Arlington 5.  With the score tied at 1-1, the No. 8 Baylor softball team put seven runs on the board in the third inning as the Lady Bears cruised to a 10-5 win over Texas-Arlington in action at Allan Saxe Field. With the win, Baylor improves to 34-5 on the season as Texas-Arlington falls to 12-20 on the year. Baylor got on the board first against Texas-Arlington as Tessa Lynam hit a two-out double to right-center field in the top of the first inning to score Harmony Schwethelm to give the Lady Bears an early 1-0 lead. Texas-Arlington tied in the bottom of the inning; Katie Jones singled to left with two outs to score April Clougherty and tie the game at 1-1.

Baylor grabbed control of the game by scoring seven runs in the third. The first five batters reached base for Baylor.  Kylie Conroy put the first runs on the board when she followed a Melissa Huffhines double with a double to give Baylor a 2-1 lead. Schwethelm then hit the third double of the inning, scoring Conroy from third as the Lady Bears grabbed a two-run lead. With runners at second and third, Chelsi Lake hit a triple off the top of the center field wall to score Schwethelm and Osburn for a 5-1 lead. The fourth double of the inning, by Kim Wilmoth, allowed Jordan Daniels to score and Wilmoth scored on a Carrie Leerberg single to give Baylor a 7-1 lead. Leerberg put the finishing touches on the scoring outburst as she stole third and scored on an errant throw by catcher Lacey Leadbetter to give Baylor an 8-1 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

Baylor extended the lead back to seven in the fourth when Daniels hit a fly ball to right, scoring Conroy from third to make the score 9-2. Following an unearned run by the Lady Mavericks in the fourth, Stephanie Pomes extended the lead back to seven with a solo home run over the center field wall, her eighth of the season, with two outs in the fifth.  Texas-Arlington scored single runs in the bottom of the fifth and seventh, however, Nicole Jackson kept the Lady Mavericks from scoring again as she earned the win to improve to 4-0 on the season. In the complete game victory, the first complete game of her career, Jackson allowed three earned runs while scattering 11 hits and striking out one. Lauren Hebert took the loss to fall to 3-8 on the season, allowing eight runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings.

Stanford 2, San Jose State 0.  In the 4^th, Lauren Lappin and Leah Nelson walked, both scoring on Tricia Aggabao’s two-out triple.  Each team had 6 hits.  Laura Severson got the win, with relief from Becky McCullough.  Carol Forbes took the loss.

Georgia sweeps South Carolina.  The No. 10-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (36-8, 17-1 SEC) completed their fifth Southeastern Conference series sweep of the season on Wednesday after earning a 9-2 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks (24-17, 7-8 SEC) at the UGA Soccer/Softball Complex.  Kasi Carroll (9-3) earned the win in relief for the Bulldogs after tossing 5.2 scoreless frames, striking out five.  A trio of Bulldogs contributed two-run home runs to pace Georgia offensively at the plate.  Megan McAllister went 2-for-3 with three RBI after erasing a two-run deficit in the third inning with her SEC-leading 13th blast of the season.  Carroll hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to break the 2-2 tie.  Wendland smashed her 10th of the season in the sixth inning after sending a one-out blast over the left field fence. Jessica Doucette and Jessica Gilmore each contributed RBI hits.  

The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Ashley Smith's two-run home run. The Bulldogs tied the score at 2-2 in the third inning on McAllister's home run over the left field fence. Georgia added three runs in the fourth inning to extend its lead to 5-2.  Gilmore led off the frame with a single down the left field line and scored on Carroll's two-run home run.  McAllister would later tally her third RBI of the game after singling home pinch-runner Victoria Sanders. The Bulldogs escaped a one-out jam in the fifth inning after Carroll induced a ground out and a line out, stranding runners on first and third.  Georgia extended its lead to 9-2 in the sixth inning after registering four runs and four hits.  Wendland's opposite field home run highlighted a frame that also saw Gilmore and Doucette tally RBI hits. Aleca Johnson (4-4) took the loss in the circle for South Carolina after scattering five runs and five hits in three innings.

Alabama  6, Belmont 0.  Tuesday.  The 11th ranked Crimson Tide softball team proved to be too strong in all facets of the game for the Belmont Bruins (9-20) as Alabama (41-9) claimed a 6-0 victory at the Metro Kiwanis Softball Sportsplex in Huntsville, Alabama.  Jennifer Wright pitched the win.  The Tide plays Mississippi State Saturday.

Oregon State 2, Oregon 1.  Oregon State's 19th consecutive victory - McGowan's 18th straight win. OSU matches best start in Pac-10 play at 4-0. Back-to-back fifth inning home runs from junior catcher Lisa Allen and sophomore third baseman Sherina Galvan propelled the No. 13 ranked Oregon State softball team to its 19th consecutive win and a 2-1 victory against No. 25 University of Oregon on Wednesday afternoon. With the Civil War win, the Beavers improve to 25-6 overall and match their best start in Pacific-10 Conference action with a 4-0 record. The Ducks drop to 22-11 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.

The game shaped up to be a pitcher's dual from the start as OSU starter Brianne McGowan (22-2) and UO starter Amy Harris (11-5) kept the opposing batters off balance. Oregon freshman Lovena Chaput broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third when she roped an RBI double to the left-center field gap for the game's first hit. Breanne Sabol, who had reached base on a walk, came around to score to give the Ducks the 1-0 advantage. Harris kept the Beaver batters at bay, pitching a no-hitter until Mia Longfellow belted her eighth double of the season with a one-out shot off the right field fence in the bottom of the fourth. OSU failed to capitalize as Harris forced a line-out and recorded her fourth strike out to end the inning.

McGowan strengthened her hold on the Oregon hitters in the fifth by garnering a pair of strike outs and the Beavers used the momentum to take over the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Allen knotted the score with a one-out shot that bounced on the top of the right-center field fence before finding its way over the wall. The home run was her sixth of the season and helped the Canby, OR, native move into fourth place in the OSU record book with 21 career homers.

 In the ensuing at-bat, Galvan belted what proved to be the game-winner with a deep shot to straight-away center field. The home run was Galvan's first of the season and extended her current hitting streak to 10 games. McGowan quieted any comeback bid by the Ducks, retiring six straight and striking out the side in the seventh to end the game. The victory was the 18th consecutive for the 6-2 hurler and her 17th complete game on the season. Oregon State returns to action on Friday when the Beavers face No. 2 ranked University of Arizona.

UCLA  Friday Stanford

Louisiana-Lafayette  Nicholls State postponed to 4/27; New Mexico State Saturday

Florida  Thursday Florida State

Fresno State  Thursday Pacific

Missouri sweeps Iowa State.  Battling back from a three-game losing streak, the No. 17 Missouri softball team swept Big 12 opponent Iowa State, 9-1 and 11-1, in today's doubleheader on University Field. After run-ruling the Cyclones in back-to-back games, the Tigers improved to 29-6 on the season and 3-3 in league play, while Iowa State falls to 12-20 and 0-5.  The Tigers combined for 17 hits, including seven home runs in the doubleheader. Senior shortstop Heather Kunkel went yard three times on the day, clearing two shots over the fence in Missouri's first game of the afternoon. To date, Kunkel has pounded 12 homers this season and 19 in her four year career with the Tigers. Kunkel stands fourth in the MU career home run record book and is tied with redshirt freshman Micaela Minner for second on the MU season home run chart.  Sophomore catcher Kathy Masterson and freshman Amanda Renth each ripped their fourth home run of the season in the second game. With two out and two on, Renth made her second plate appearance of the fourth inning and smoked the ball over the left field fence to drive in the final three runs in MU's 11-1 victory. Earlier that same inning, Masterson cleared a solo shot over the left field fence.  Missouri senior Erin Kalka improved to 2-3 on the season after winning the first of two games against ISU. Kalka tossed 5.1 innings of work and struckout nine batters while allowing only three hits. Freshman Jen Bruck (St. Peters, Mo.) earned her 13th win of the season after twirling 4.0 innings in MU's second game against the Cyclones. Bruck struckout two and allowed only one hit.

Northwestern  Friday Minnesota

Iowa 8, Northern Illinois 2.  The University of Iowa softball team set two school records en route to an 8-2 victory against Northern Illinois on Wednesday. The Hawkeyes broke the school record for home runs in a season and Lisa Birocci became Iowa's all-time career strikeout leader. Birocci struck out seven of the 10 batters she faced in three innings of relief and now has 818 career strikeouts. She passed former Hawkeye all-American Kristi Hanks, who collected 815 strikeouts from 1999-02. Freshman Emily Nichols blasted two home runs, increasing the team total to 43 homers on the season. The previous school record was 42 home runs, set by the 2003 squad. Nichols now has 14 home runs on the year. She broke the single season home run record against Ball State earlier in the year.

Northern Illinois wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. After a two-out single by Kelly Drozd, Toni Del Toro hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first to gain an early 2-0 lead. Ali Arnold struck out the final batter to escape the inning. Jenna Spratt stole home in the top of the second to trim the deficit to one run and then the Hawkeye bats came alive. Nichols hit a two-out single in the top of the third, which was followed by a Sami Baugh double. Kylie Murray hit a two RBI single to left and Iowa gained the lead, 3-2.

Summer Downs led off the fifth inning with a single and Stacy May laid down a bunt single to put runners on first and second for Nichols, who responded with a three-run homer to left. The Hawkeyes rounded out the scoring in the top of the sixth. Mindy Heidgerken started the inning with a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. Another passed ball allowed Heidgerken to score and Nichols followed with a solo home run for the final run of the contest.

Arizona State  Wednesday Arizona

Georgia Tech 5, Alabama State 1.  Sophomore Sarah Wood (10-2) worked five strong innings and freshman Savannah Brown went 4-for-4, with two doubles and one RBI, to lead No. 21 Georgia Tech (35-9) over Alabama State (7-19), 5-1, at Lagoon Park on Wednesday afternoon. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled due to inclement weather.  Brown tied a single game school record with her four hits on the afternoon. Freshman Aileen Morales, junior Lauren Schlechte and seniors Liz Bartle and Kirin Kumar each drove in a run for the Yellow Jackets. Wood won her eighth decision in her last nine starts, scattering three hits and striking out four.

Washington  Friday California

Creighton sweeps Drake. The 23rd-ranked Creighton Bluejay softball team moved its winning streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep of the Drake Bulldogs on Wednesday afternoon at the CU Sports Complex.  After a dramatic come-from-behind victory in game one 3-2, CU topped the Dogs 3-1 in the nightcap.  The Jays are now off to their best ever start in Missouri Valley Conference play with a 10-1 MVC mark, while their 29-4 overall mark continues to tie the 1981 team’s best start in CU history.

Christine Fukumoto drove home the game-winning run in game one and struck again in the first inning of game two.  Lauren Flores led off the game with a wind-aided double to left field, as DU’s left fielder Jaci Faidley mis-played the ball in the strong winds.  Fukumoto followed two batters later and benefitted from the wind as well on an RBI double. The Jays moved their lead to 3-0 with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.  CU had help from two errors by Drake third baseman Katie Wappler in the inning.  Jamie Reiss singled home Jessica German with the first run of the inning, while Wappler’s second error of the inning on a bunt attempt by Melanie Dorsey with two outs allowed Katie Ayers to score after she had reached base on Wappler’s first error. Abby Johnson carried a perfect game into the fifth inning for the Jays, but a line drive single off the glove of Flores at second base gave DU its first runner of game two.  A triple by pinch-hitter Shanna Cook later in the inning drove in the only run for DU in game two. Johnson moved her mark to 10-2 with the win, allowing just three hits and one earned run while walking none and striking out three.  Freshman Kristin Birocci (4-5) suffered the loss, allowing five hits, three walks and two earned runs, while fanning seven.  The Bulldogs fell to 13-14, 5-6 in the MVC after the loss.

Southern Illinois sweeps SEMO.  Amy Harre struck out eight and allowed just two hits in 6.1 innings of relief, while Katie Louis drove in the game's only run as #24 Southern Illinois (30-8) swept Southeast Missouri State (16-15) with a 1-0 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader on Wednesday at the Southeast Softball Complex. Despite nine hits and two errors by the Redhawks, the Salukis could manage just one run, which was enough to extend their winning streak to a season-high 13 games. SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock has won 10 straight against SEMO and 14 of the 15 meetings since she became head coach. SIU has won 24 of its last 25 games thanks in large part to Harre's sixth straight decision. Harre relieved starter Ashley Hamby in the 1^st and halted a SEMO rally, After Harre retired the side in the second inning, the Saluki offense finally tallied a run in the top of the third inning to take the lead. Lauren Roney singled to left field with one out and the leftfielder made an error, allowing Roney to advance to second base. Following a pop out and a walk to Katie Jordan, Katie Louis singled with two outs to drive in Clare Ford, who was running for Roney, for the winning run.

After entering the game, Harre retired 12 straight batters before allowing a hit by SEMO in the fifth inning. The Redhawks threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with a leadoff single and a sacrifice, leaving a runner at second base with one out. But Harre forced a ground out to third and struck out her eighth batter to end the game. The senior retired seven of the last eight batters she faced and didn't walk a batter in the game to improve to 14-6 with her school-record 75th win. Roney (3-for-4), Haas (2-for-3) and Louis (1-for-3, RBI) led the Saluki offense. SEMO's Amy Fahnestock (10-6) struck out three and allowed nine hits, two walks and a run.

Nebraska 7, North Dakota State 0.  Nebraska exploded for five runs in the fifth inning and sophomore Ashley DeBuhr shut down the Bison, as Nebraska earned a 7-0 victory over North Dakota State Wednesday at Bowlin Stadium. With the win – NU’s first home victory of the season – Nebraska improved to 22-13 on the year while North Dakota State fell to 15-15 overall.

Junior Trisha Tanahill started the Husker surge as she reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before moving to third when Devin Porter reached on an error. Sophomore Carmen Kier was hit by a pitch to load the bases for junior Koko Tacha, who lined a shot over the glove of the short stop to drive in Tanahill. Nebraska added three unearned runs, as sophomore Devin Porter scored on junior Elizabeth Rock’s RBI single while Kier and Tacha scored as senior Anne Steffan reached on a fielder’s choice. Steffan grounded back to the circle and Allison Bakke threw home, but catcher Jennie Shollenberger was off the plate as Kier slid around the plate. Tacha then made a heads up play as she scored without a throw home. Senior Sheena Lawrick rounded out the frame as she drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to center for the final 7-0 margin. Lawrick finished 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI while Rock led the Huskers by going 3-for-3 with a run and RBI. Lawrick's single also marked the 100th hit of her career.

Auburn  Tennessee April 9

Oregon.  Lost to Oregon State.

OTHER GAMES AND HEADLINES

(Given constraints of time and neuropathy, SPY cannot write a summary of every game.  SPY edits material provided by SIDs for the Top25 teams, and, for most, copies the headlines which the SIDs have posted on ColleSports.com.  Readers can click on those headlines for additional detail.)

UIC sweeps Bradley. (April 5)  UIC senior Cameron Astiazaran enjoyed a career day at the plate and the Flames extended their winning streak to six with a doubleheader sweep of host Bradley at Laura Bradley Park on Tuesday afternoon. UIC edged the Braves 3-2 in the opener and then rolled to an 11-1, six-inning victory in the nightcap. The Flames, who have now won 17 of their last 18 games, moved to 25-16 on the season while Bradley dipped to 9-16. Astiazaran was a one-woman wrecking crew at the plate for UIC, going 6-for-7 in the twin-bill with two home runs and four RBI. The Horizon League leader in every offensive category tied the school single-game hit record in the first game, going 4-for-4 with four singles. She then tied the school single-game home run record with two homers in the nightcap. It was the second time in her career Astiazaran has tied the single-game hit record and the third time she has recorded a multi-homer game. In game one, freshman Lauren Brennan notched her first collegiate win and drove in all three runs with a bases clearing double in the first as the Flames slipped past Bradley, 3-2.  Brittany Dehler was the losing pitcher for Bradley, tossing all seven innings and falling to 5-6 this season.  In game two, Astiazaran turned her hitting from small ball to long ball with her third career multi-homer game in an 11-1 victory for UIC in six innings. The senior hit a three-run shot in the second and a solo blast in the fourth, giving her a team-high nine home runs this season. Junior Joyce Cathey also added to the Flames homer parade with a three-run shot in the sixth, her career-high sixth this season. Bradley pitchers had allowed just three home runs all season entering today's game. Junior Brittany McIntyre picked up her 10th win of the season in the circle for the Flames, working six innings while allowing one run on seven hits.

LSU’s GIROUARD WINS #1000.  Arkansas won 5-3, its first SEC victory. LSU took second game 8-3.  LSU head coach Yvette Girouard won her 1,000th career game as the Tigers split a Southeastern Conference doubleheader against Arkansas on Wednesday night, falling 5-3 in the first game before winning game two, 8-3, at Tiger Park.

With the split, LSU moved to 19-14 on the season and 3-11 in SEC play, while the Lady Razorback went to 14-29 overall and 1-15 in league play. The pair will play the rubber match on Thursday at 5 p.m. The game will be televised live on Cox Sports Television in Baton Rouge on cable channel 37. The LSU Sports Network will also carry the radio broadcast on Country Legends 107.3 and on the internet at www.LSUsports.net.

Girouard became only the fifth head coach in NCAA Division I softball history and the sixth coach in NCAA history at any division to win 1,000 career games. She joins Fresno State head coach Margie Wright, Florida State head coach JoAnne Graf, Iowa head coach Gayle Blevins and Arizona head coach Mike Candrea as the only coaches in Division I history to reach the millennium mark.

Against Arkansas, the Tigers held a 2-0 lead in the first game before a four-run fifth inning by the Lady'Backs gave Arkansas the lead for good. LSU cut the lead to one, 4-3, but could get no closer as the Lady Razorbacks scored one more in the seventh to run the final to 5-3.

In the second game, Arkansas took an early 1-0 lead, but the Tigers put up three runs in each of the first two innings and one each in the third and fourth innings on their way to an 8-3 victory. The Lady'Backs got one in the top of the fifth and one in the seventh, putting the tying run on deck before Tiffany Garcia got Mindy O'Malley to ground out to end the game.

Florida State  Thursday Florida

HEADLINES

(To access these stories on college web sites, push Control then click on the headline)

April 6, 2005 Quinnipiac: Games Added to Softball Schedule
April 6, 2005 Fresno State: Southern Selected as Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
April 6, 2005 Cal: Anderson Tosses No-Hitter as No. 3 Cal Sweeps Saint Mary's
April 6, 2005 St. John's: St. John's Split Non-Conference Doubleheader at Fairfield
April 6, 2005 Illinois: Home cooking cures what ails Illini
April 6, 2005 Southern Illinois: Amy Harre's Pitching, Katie Louis' RBI Leads #24 Softball To 1-0 Win, Sweep Of SEMO
April 6, 2005 Slippery Rock: Rock sweeps Point Park by 7-2, 4-1 scores
April 6, 2005 Oregon State: Back-To-Back Home Runs From Lisa Allen And Sherina Galvan Give No. 13 Softball A 2-1 Civil War Victory
April 6, 2005 Army: Army Sweeps Rutgers In Non-League Doubleheader
April 6, 2005 Sacred Heart: Lemenager no-hits Yale en route to Doubleheader Split
April 6, 2005 Charlotte: Softball Splits Doubleheader With Appalachian State
April 6, 2005 Houston: The Streak Is Broken With A New One Begun
April 6, 2005 Utah: Utah Softball Bags Two Wins
April 6, 2005 North Carolina: Carolina Softball Drops 2-1 Decision to Campbell
April 6, 2005 Maryland: Maryland Softball Gets Two Wins Over Delaware State
April 6, 2005 Iowa: Hawkeyes Shatter Records Against Northern Illinois
April 6, 2005 Quinnipiac: Softball Splits With CCSU To Open NEC Play
April 6, 2005 Endicott: Gulls Win Game Two
April 6, 2005 Endicott: Gulls Take Game 1 from NEC
April 6, 2005 UT-Arlington: #8 BAYLOR USES SEVEN RUN FOURTH TO CRUISE PAST LADY MAVERICKS
April 6, 2005 Baylor: Softball Defeats Texas-Arlington 10-5
April 6, 2005 Iowa State: Iowa State Swept by No. 17 Missouri
April 6, 2005 Bucknell: Bucknell Softball Shuts Out Towson 3-0
April 6, 2005 Michigan State: Eastern Michigan Scores Four Unearned Runs To Defeat Softball, 4-3
April 6, 2005 Fairleigh Dickinson: Softball Splits Non Conference Doubleheader with host St. Peter's
April 6, 2005 Endicott: Gulls Take Two from NEC
April 6, 2005 Illinois-Chicago: Softball Rallies To Edge Wisconsin, 5-4
April 6, 2005 Missouri: Missouri Softball Team Sweeps Iowa State
April 6, 2005 NC State: Phoenix Escape with 1-0 Win Over Wolfpack Softball
April 6, 2005 Merchant Marine: Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Over Lehman by Scores of 17-0, 8-0
April 6, 2005 Jacksonville: Softball Shuts Out Savannah State in Doubleheader
April 6, 2005 Lafayette: Drexel Prevails in Two 1-0, Extra-Inning Softball Affairs
April 6, 2005 C. Michigan: Softball Knocks Off No. 1-Ranked Michigan, 5-4
April 6, 2005 CCSU: Central Connecticut Splits With Quinnipiac to Open the NEC Portion of the 2005 Season
April 6, 2005 Yale: Torres' Walk-Off Homer Helps Yale Earn Split
April 6, 2005 Fairfield: Stags Win Nightcap To Gain Split With St. John's
April 6, 2005 Maine: Softball Drops Doubleheader at UMass
April 6, 2005 Georgia: Georgia Softball Completes Sweep Over South Carolina
April 6, 2005 Louisville: Softball Edges Indiana 1-0 in Nine Innings
April 6, 2005 Purdue: No Mercy
April 6, 2005 George Washington: James Madison Takes Pair from Softball
April 6, 2005 Princeton: Lindsay Motal Records Her Fourth Home Run In Loss
April 6, 2005 UMass: Softball Sweeps Maine, 5-1 And 3-0
April 6, 2005 George Mason: Patriots And UMBC Split Softball Doubleheader, 5-1, 0-1
April 6, 2005 South Carolina: USC Falls 9-2 to No. 10 Georgia
April 6, 2005 Washington: Kristen Rivera Named Collegiate Player Of The Year Finalist
April 6, 2005 Siena: Softball Battles Back For Split With Vermont in Home Opener
April 6, 2005 Boston College: Softball Sweeps Connecticut In BIG EAST Opener
April 6, 2005 Butler: Bulldogs Drop Both Games of Doubleheader Wednesday at Purdue
April 6, 2005 NC State: Elon Takes Out NC State Softball, 3-0, in Opener of Doubleheader
April 6, 2005 Southern Illinois: Cassidy Scoggins Throws Two-Hitter, #24 Softball Beats SEMO 4-1
April 6, 2005 Bowling Green: RedHawks Blank Falcons, 4-0 and 1-0
April 6, 2005 Miami (Ohio): Poggendorf Pulls Miami from Seventh-Inning Jam to Top Bowling Green, 1-0
April 6, 2005 Georgia: Michelle Green Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player Of The Week
April 6, 2005 Georgia Tech: No. 19 Georgia Tech Upends Alabama State, 5-1
April 6, 2005 Purdue: Squeaking Out A Win
April 6, 2005 Stanford: ASA Announces Top 25 Candidates For Collegiate Softball Player of the Year
April 6, 2005 C. Michigan: Softball Downs No. 1 Michigan, 5-4
April 6, 2005 Chaminade: Swords Fall in Montana
April 6, 2005 Miami (Ohio): Poggendorf Wins Fifth Straight Outing as RedHawks Top Bowling Green, 4-0
April 6, 2005 Texas Tech: Softball Coaches Set to Host Coaching Clinic
April 6, 2005 Virginia: Virginia's Larquier Named ACC Softball Player Of The Week
April 6, 2005 Southern Illinois: Softball's Amy Harre Named MVC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week
April 6, 2005 Northern Colorado: Northern Colorado Softball to Take on Utah State, Utah Valley State
April 6, 2005 Stanford: Stanford Hosts SJSU Tonight Before Taking On UCLA and Washington
April 6, 2005 Harvard: Softball Adds Thursday Doubleheader Against Quinnipiac
April 6, 2005 Samford: Bulldogs To Host Jacksonville State In Key OVC Matchup On Thursday
April 6, 2005 Providence: Softball To Host Dartmouth Thursday At 3:00 p.m.
April 6, 2005 Utah State: USU Softball Weekly Release
April 6, 2005 Florida State: One-On-One: An Interview With Coach Graf, Conducted By FSU Softball Player Carly Brieske
April 6, 2005 Princeton: Snyder Earns Pitcher Of The Week
April 6, 2005 Quinnipiac: Softball Reschedules Doubleheader Against Harvard
April 6, 2005 Mount St. Mary's: Softball reschedules Towson doubleheader for Apr. 26
April 6, 2005 Ole Miss: Doubleheader With UT-Martin Cancelled Due To Inclement Weather
April 6, 2005 Butler: Naffziger Earns League Honor for Second Time This Season
April 6, 2005 SFA: Softball Travels To Baylor
April 6, 2005 Rhode Island: Softball Suffers Tough 5-4 Loss To Harvard
April 6, 2005 Florida State: Tasha's Thoughts: Diary Entry #4
April 6, 2005 Fairleigh Dickinson: 2005 Softball Media Guide
April 6, 2005 Rhode Island: Rams Fall In Game One Of Doubleheader
April 6, 2005 Georgia Tech: Q & A With Head Softball Coach Ehren Earleywine
April 6, 2005 Bowling Green: Falcons Host Miami in Rematch of MAC Tournament Final
April 6, 2005 Jacksonville: Dolphins Sweep South Carolina State as Katie Dobson Tosses Sixth Career No-Hitter
April 6, 2005 Illinois-Chicago: Softball Pushes Winning Streak To Six With Doubleheader Sweep

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