UW-Green Bay Opens Up The 2005 Softball Season At The Metrodome Classic

Feb. 13, 2005

Minneapolis, Minn. - The UW-Green Bay softball team went 0-5 in its opening week of play at the Metrodome Classic, hosted by the University of Minnesota. Seniors Stephanie Hansen and Michelle Kaminski earned all-tournament team honors for their play in the five-game set.

The Phoenix opened with a 4-0 loss to the host Gophers on Thursday, as UW-Green Bay stranded eight runners in the setback. After trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Phoenix had runners on first and second with two out, but Lynsy Erickson was thrown out at home trying to halt the shutout. Minnesota (2-0) added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings for the final result. Hansen went the distance in the setback, giving up eight hits.

On Friday, UW-Green Bay dropped a pair of contests, falling to Drake in the opener, 6-3, before an 8-1 loss to Northern Iowa. Against Drake, the Bulldogs (2-1) jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Phoenix tallied three runs in the sixth, capitalizing on two Drake errors. Kristin Kosobucki took the loss as she gave up six hits and six earned runs despite striking out five.

In game two Feb. 1, Northern Iowa (2-0) took a 5-0 lead early on, thanks to a four-run third inning. UW-Green Bay rallied in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out, but Lisa Meissner's run was the lone score for the Phoenix in the contest. Meissner gave up seven hits to take the loss in five innings of work.

UW-Green Bay wrapped up the weekend with a 3-2 setback to Western Illinois Saturday before falling to Tulsa Sunday morning, 3-0. Against Western Illinois, the Phoenix tied the contest at 2-2 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Andrea Kurzynske and Kaminski's unearned run later in the inning. But the Phoenix could not hold on, as the Westerwinds (2-1) scored in the bottom of the seventh to win. Hansen struck out three while scattering five hits in the loss.

In the finale against the Golden Hurricanes, UW-Green Bay gave up just five hits defensively as Meissner struck out 10, but a two-run sixth inning by Tulsa (5-6) was too much to overcome.

For the week, Erickson went 6-11 in four contests to lead the Phoenix at the plate, while Kurzynske tallied two doubles and went 3-10 in four contests.

UW-Green Bay will next return to action March 13-19 at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.

(Story courtesy of Sheila Blackman, UW-Green Bay Sports Information Department)