Softball
Pitcher: Laura Raflik, Senior, Plover, WI/Pacelli
Raflik allowed just one earned run in two appearances as the Blugolds went 4-0 for the week. In a 5-2 conference victory over UW-Superior Raflik pitched all seven innings allowing one earned run while scattering five hits. Raflik struck out five Yellowjacket batters while allowing zero walks to earn the win. In a 7-3 victory over Northland College Raflik started the game pitching three scoreless innings before being pulled as the Blugolds held a 6-0 lead. Raflik allowed just one hit while striking out four and walking one Lumberjill batter. For the week Raflik posted a 1-0 record pitching 10.0 innings allowing one earned run for an ERA of 0.90. Raflik allowed six hits while striking out nine and walking one batter.
Winning recorded multiple hits in all four games for the Blugolds this week who went a perfect 4-0. In a 6-3 victory over UW-Superior Winning went two-for-three from the plate which included hitting a double to go along with scoring one run and stealing one base. In a 5-2 win over the Yellowjackets to earn the doubleheader sweep Winning again went two-for-three from the plate hitting another double while scoring two runs, knocking in one RBI and stealing one base. In a 13-0 (five innings) victory over St. Scholastica (Minn.) Winning recorded her third-straight two-for-three performance from the plate which included a two-run home run to go along with four total RBI’s while scoring one run. Winning ended the week in a 7-3 victory over Northland College with a two-for-four appearance from the plate that included a double to go along with collecting two RBI’s, scoring one run and stealing a base. For the week Winning went eight-for-13 (.615) from the plate which included three doubles and one home run. Winning knocked in seven RBI’s, scored five runs and stole three bases. Winning posted an on-base percentage of .643 while earning a slugging percentage of 1.077.
Women’s Tennis
Colleen McCullough, Junior, Maple Grove, MN/Osseo
McCullough lost a hard-fought singles match but rebounded to win her doubles match as the Blugolds fell to UW-La Crosse 5-3 in the semifinals of the WIAC AQ Tournament. After dropping her first game 4-6 at No. 3 singles, McCullough stormed back to win the second game 6-1 before eventually falling in a third set 11-9. At No. 2 doubles McCullough teamed up with Sarah Henderson to defeat the tandem of Jennifer Graham and Rachel Wabers 8-3 recording the Blugolds’ lone doubles win of the day.
Men’s Track and Field
Field: Roger Steen, Throws, Senior, Luck, WI
Steen recorded another strong performance this past weekend competing in the University/College Division of the Drake Relays in the shot put. In a field featuring many NCAA Division I and II competitors, Steen advanced to the finals of the shot put and finishes sixth with a top toss of 59-11.25 (18.27 meters). Steen was the top non-scholarship placewinner in the event. The throw was the second-farthest toss in NCAA Division III this season only trailing Steen’s national-leading throw of 60-5.25 (18.42 meters). Steen currently leads his next closest NCAA Division III competitor by over 2.5 feet.
Track: Joshua Thorson, Distance, Junior, Plymouth, MN/Wayzata
Thorson posted his strongest outdoor showing of the season in the 5,000-meter run competing at the Gina Relays hosted by Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. In a field dominated by scholarship competitors, Thorson won the event with a time of 14:12.90 which is currently the second-fastest time in the nation among NCAA Division III competitors and is less than two seconds off the nation’s top time.
Women’s Track and Field
Track: 4 x 400-meter Relay: Jessie Reineck (Jr.-Greenville, WI/Fox Valley Lutheran), Sarah Glidden (So.-Greenville, WI/Hortonville), Steph Rouse (Sr.-Minnetonka, MN/Hopkins), Jessica Rupnow (Jr.-Sussex, WI/Sussex Hamilton)
The 4 x 400-meter relay team missed advancing to the finals of the Drake Relays by 0.63 seconds but posted the top relay time in NCAA Division III. The relay team established the top time in the nation of 3:48.23 while competing in the College Division of the Drake Relays. The Blugolds ran the fastest time for a non-scholarship school among the 28 entries who competed.