Horizon League Softball League Championship Game One: Green Bay 6, Butler 0

May 8, 2008

CHICAGO - The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay shutout Butler University 6-0 in game one of the Horizon League Championship at Loyola Softball Park. The Phoenix will advance to the second round and faceoff against regular-season champion Cleveland State at 4:00 p.m., while Butler will take on the loser of the UIC-Youngstown State matchup at 9:00 a.m. on Friday.

Green Bay right-hander Anna Bluemel struck out six batters and earned her seventh win on the year, while Butler sophomore right-hander Kristen Malinkey took loss and fell to 5-12 on the year.

Offensively for the Phoenix, freshman outfielder Sara Junion led the way as she went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Green Bay struck first in the second inning as junior infielder Mollie Kaebisch drilled a solo home run to left field. Kaebisch's solo shot was just the fifth round-tripper hit by a Phoenix player this season.

The Phoenix added two more runs in the third inning as senior outfielder Dana Brockman scored on a throwing error and senior infielder Jenna Woepse scored after a RBI single by Junion.

Butler threatened to score in the top half of the fifth as they put runners on the corners with two outs but were unable to get on the board.

In the bottom half of the fifth inning Green Bay increased its advantage to 4-0. Senior Dana Brockman led off the frame with a walk. She would then advance to second on a wild pitch and would later come around to score after Junion doubled to right-center field. Junion was tagged out in a run down after she tried to extend the double to a triple.

Green Bay added two more runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-0 lead. BU retired the first two batters before freshman infielder Samantha Howe walked. Sophomore outfielder Jenna Nitti then pinch ran for Howe and would come around to score after junior catcher Missy Schleicher hit a double to right field. Freshman outfielder Kendra Woepse pinch ran for Schleicher and for added Green Bay's sixth run, scoring on a throwing error.

For complete coverage of the 2008 Horizon League Softball Championship check out the tournament homepage at www.horizonleague.org.