Lady Blues now 9-1 in MIAA, to face No. 3 ESU on Wednesday
(April 10) KIRKSVILLE, Mo. -- The Washburn Lady Blues softball team improved to 9-1 in the MIAA and 24-10 overall with a doubleheader sweep over Truman State Monday (April 10). Washburn will travel to No. 3 Emporia State on Wednesday (April 12) for another MIAA double-dip. The Lady Hornets are on top of the MIAA with a perfect 10-0 record and they are 37-3 overall. In the first game, Kelly Swygert pitched a gem of a game allowing only two hits in a 2-0 complete-game shutout. Washburn scored their two runs in the fourth inning when Ashley Webb hit a one-out home run that also scored Dani White. Swygert improved to 12-6 on the season. In the second game, the Lady Blues took advantage of four Bulldog errors leading to a 12-4 win. Shannon Gosser, Mandi Daigh and White all homered. White's home run opened the flood gates after a Truman error. With two runners on in the third, White appeared to foul out, but the Bulldogs misplayed the pop up. White took advantage of her second chance smashing a three-run homer. Washburn scored two more times in that inning and hit two homers in the fourth inning to go up 9-0. Truman scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth. Erin Pierce picked up the win allowing one earned run with five strike outs.Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats

Lady Blues softball sweep CMSU in MIAA doubleheader
(April 4) TOPEKA - The Washburn Lady Blues won for their 19th time in their last 22 games picking up a double MIAA sweep over Central Missouri. With the win, Washburn improved to 22-10 and 7-1 in the MIAA. In the first game, Washburn got on the board first in the bottom of the third as Kala Huske scored on an error by the Jennies. The Lady Blues added another run the next inning on an Autumn Hauck fielders choice scoring Mandi Daigh. In the sixth, Dani White homered to lead off the inning. CMSU added two in the top of the seventh, but left the tying run on third to end the game. Kelly Swygert picked up the complete-game win with five hits and three strike outs. In the second game, the Lady Blues scored three in the first inning on one hit and were helped out by a CMSU error. Huske and Webb each homered in the game. Erin Pierce went the distance for the Lady Blues scattering five hits lifting her record to 11-4 on the season. Washburn will be in action on Thursday in Topeka against Park University in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats

Lady Blues softball team goes 2-1 at UNO, day 2 canceled
(April 1) - OMAHA, Neb. – The Washburn Lady Blues dropped their first game 8-0 to Minnesota State-Mankato, but came back to win their final two games of the day including a 4-2 win over the No. 14 ranked UNO Mavericks. In the first game against MSU, the Lady Blues only managed two hits in the loss. Against the host school, the Lady Blues snapped the Mavericks’ 21-game winning streak behind Kelly Swygert’s complete-game win. Swygert scattered four hits while allowing one earned run. Autumn Hauck drove in two runs for the Lady Blues going 2 for 3 and Ashley Webb was 2 for 2. In the final game of the day, Washburn blasted Wayne State 9-0 as the Lady Blues ended the game in six innings. Erin Pierce struck out seven Wildcats in the three-hit shutout. Mandi Daigh was 3 for 3 with two runs scored and 1 RBI. Kala Huske was 3 for 4 with 2 RBI with a triple. Sunday's action was canceled because of wet fields. Washburn will play host to Central Missouri in an MIAA doubleheader on Tuesday, April 4 in Topeka. Minnesota State-Mankato Box | No. 14 Nebraska-Omaha Box | Wayne State Box Score | Season Stats

Lady Blues softball team sweeps Pitt State in MIAA doubleheader
(March 29) - TOPEKA - The Washburn Lady Blues swept a MIAA doubleheader from Pittsburg State winning both games 2-1 Wednesday afternoon at the Washburn Softball Complex. In the first game, the Gorillas scored an unearned run as lead off batter Gregan Ketcham as Pitt State took a 1-0 lead. The Lady Blues were held in check the entire game until the bottom of the seventh when they rallied to win 2-1. After Mandi Daigh singled, she scored on a triple by Autumn Hauck to tie the score. After intentionally walking both Kala Huske and Mandy Tarbutton to load the bases, Washburn scored the winning run on Brooke DeVader's sacrifice fly to center scoring Hauck who tagged as the throw was off line. Erin Pierce scattered four hits recording five strike outs with the one unearned run. In the second game, the Lady Blues scored both runs in the bottom of the second taking a 2-0 lead. Daigh drove in Malarie Fellers and Ashley Webb with a 1-out double down the right field line. Kelly Swygert picked up the win allowing one unearned run with three strike outs. With the win, Washburn improved to 18-9 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA equalling last season's conference win total. Washburn will be in action this weekend at the Nebraska-Omaha Invitational. Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box | Season Stats

Lady Blues softball team goes 4-1 at Missouri Western Invite
(March 26) - ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Washburn Lady Blues went 4-1 over the weekend at the Missouri Western Crossover. The Lady Blues opened the event with a 3-1 win over St. Cloud State. Washburn's Kelly Swygert pitched the complete-game with four strikeouts. Kala Huske's home run in the third inning gave the Lady Blues the lead for good. In the second game, Washburn topped Minnesota State, Mankato 4-0 behind Erin Pierce's complete-game shutout. She recorded six strikeouts while scattering five hits. Huske and Autumn Hauck each had two hits. In the nightcap, Washburn topped Upper Iowa 5-3. Huske continued her hot bat with two solo home runs while extending her hitting streak to 15 games. Dani White and Gosser also homered in the win with Swygert picking up the win for the Lady Blues. In Sunday's opener, the Lady Blues rallied from a 2-0 deficit to top No. 25 Concordia St. Paul 7-2. Washburn took the lead for good on Hauck's one-out, 2 RBI single in the fourth. White, Gosser and Brooke DeVader all homered for Washburn. Pierce came in the game in relief and pitched five scoreless innings for her seventh win of the season. In the final game of the weekend, Washburn jumped out to a 2-0 lead on No. 1 Emporia State before the Lady Hornets scored five unearned runs in the second inning. Mandy Tarbutton and Gosser each drove in two runs and Ashley Webb hit her third home run of the season. The Lady Blues return to MIAA play with Pittsburg State on Wednesday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. St. Cloud State Box Score | Minnesota State-Mankato Box Score | Upper Iowa Box Score | Concordia St. Paul Box Score | Emporia State Box Score | Season Stats

Lady Blues softball team goes 3-1 at Pitt State Invitational
(March 19) - PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Washburn Lady Blues softball team improved to 11-8 after going 2-1 at the Pittsburg State University Invitational which was shortened due to wet weather. The Lady Blues fell 4-0 to Missouri-Rolla as the Lady Blues stranded nine base runners. Brooke DeVader had two hits for Washburn. In the second game against the host Gorillas, the Lady Blues pulled out a 8-7 come from behind win over Pittsburg State. The Lady Blues trailed 5-1 before exploding for seven runs in the fifth inning. Shannon Gosser hit her first home run in the big inning for Washburn, a three-run shot and Kala Huske also homered and singled in a run as well. Erin Pierce picked up the win allowing five earned runs and striking out eight. Kelly Swygert shutout the Bellevue Bruins in the final game of the day as she allowed two hits and struck out four in a 4-0 win. Huske homered again as she finished 3 for 4 with 3 RBI. The Lady Blues' doubleheader with Fort Hays State on March 20 has been canceled because of we fields. Missouri-Rolla Box Score | Pittsburg State Box Score | Bellevue Box Score | Season Stats

Lady Blues toss 2 no-hitters including perfect game by Erin Pierce
(March 15) - TOPEKA - The Washburn Lady Blues pitched two no-hitters including a perfect game in a doubleheader sweep over Benedictine winning game one 8-0 and taking the second game 5-0. In the second game, senior Erin Pierce tossed the first perfect game in Lady Blues history and her second no-hitter of her career. The no-no was the eighth in Lady Blues history. She struck out a season-high nine batters in the outting while tossing 81 pitches. She improved to 5-2 on the season. In that game, Dani White was 2-3 with 4 RBI including a first inning 3-run homer. In the opener, Kelly Swygert had a perfect game going through three innings and was replaced by Shannon Gosser who continued the no-hitter the final two innings adding a pair of strikeouts. Mandy Tarbutton was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored and Brooke DeVader was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Autumn Hauck drove in two more runs for the Lady Blues. Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats

Lady Blues sweep Missouri Southern in MIAA doubleheader
(March 14) - TOPEKA - The Washburn Lady Blues improved to 8-7 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA with a doubleheader sweep over Missouri Southern. The Lady Blues took the opener 3-1 and held on in the nightcap 4-3. In the opener, Washburn fell behind 1-0 after two innings of play, but the Lady Blues tie it in the fourth with a single run and take the lead for good on Malarie Feller's first home run of the season. Washburn added an insurance run on an RBI single by Brooke DeVader scoring Kala Huske. Kelly Swygert picked up the win allowing one earned run and striking out two Lion batters. In the second game, the Lady Blues' Erin Pierce recorded the complete-game win allowing two earned runs while striking out a season-high tying seven. Huske and DeVader each homered in the win and Huske finished the second game 2 for 3 with 3 RBI. DeVader also doubled for the seventh time this season. The Lady Blues will be back in action on Wedensday, March 15 with a doubleheader against Benedictine at 1 p.m. at the Washburn Softball Complex. Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Season Stats

Lady Blues roll Baker in home-opener crushing Wildcats 10-1
(March 1) TOPEKA - The Washburn Lady Blues rolled to a 10-1 win over Baker University in their home opener. With the win the Lady Blues improved to 5-6 while the Wildcats fall to 2-1. The Lady Blues were led by center fielder Ashley Webb who became the 15th Lady Blue in school history to hit two home runs in a single game going 2 for 3 with 4 RBI. It was the second time in her career she had hit two home runs in a single game. Mandy Tarbutton continued her 11-game hitting streak to start the season and Erin Pierce picked up the win pitching six innings allowing four hits and one earned run. The Lady Blues will be back in action this weekend at the Missouri Western State University Tournament in St. Joseph, Mo. Box Score | Season Stats

Lady Blues softball team goes 1-3 in weekend action
(Feb. 19) ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The Washburn Lady Blues softball team went 1-3 in weekend action at the Husky Dome Invitational in St. Cloud, Minn. Washburn started off the weekend with a 7-4 loss to Minnesota-Duluth. The Lady Blues gave up three unearned runs in the opener. Mandy Tarbutton drove in two runs and scored another against the Bulldogs. In the second game against host school St. Cloud State, the Lady Blues Tarbutton had the hot bat again as she drove in two runs on two hits, including the two-RBI single in the fourth that turned out to be the
winning hit. On Sunday, the Washburn Lady Blues dropped a pair of games in the final day of the Husky Dome Invitational at St. Cloud State University. The Lady Blues opened the day with a 3-1 loss to No. 5 ranked Concordia St. Paul. In the second game against Southwest Minnesota State, the Lady Blues allowed two earned runs in the bottom of the seventh falling 3-2. With the losses, Washburn falls to 4-4 on the season.The 2006 softball media guide is also online. Minnesota-Duluth Box Score | St. Cloud State Box Score | Concorida St. Paul Box Score | Southwest Minnesota State Box Score | Season Stats | 2006 Washburn Softball Media Guide

Lady Blues softball team announces 2006 signing class
(Feb. 7) Washburn Lady Blues head softball coach Lisa Carey has announced the signing of seven student-athletes who will join the Lady Blues for the start of the 2006-07 school year. "We're excited about these student-athletes joining our program," Carey said. "These are very talented players who will have an immediate impact on out team." Complete release

Lady Blues softball team goes 3-1 in Texas, 4 named to all-tournament team
(Feb. 5) SAN ANGELO, Texas - The Washburn Lady Blues softball team went 3-1 in their opening weekend at the Angelo State Tournament. THe Lady Blues took on Eastern New Mexico in the semifinals and rolled to a 5-2 win. Mandi Daigh had two RBI for Washburn. Erin Pierce picked up the win and Kelly Swygert pitched two shutout innings for the save. In the championship game, Washburn had a rematch with the No. 2 ranked Angelo State squad the Lady Blues had beat the day before. Washburn came up on the short end of the scoreboard falling 8-4. Washburn was up 4-1 in the heading into the top of the sixth inning, but the Rambells scored three unearned runs and seven total in the final two innings leading to the win. Mandy Tarbutton had two hits in the loss for Washburn. The Lady Blues had four players named to the all-tournament team in first baseman Dani White, shortstop Brooke Devader, catcher Kala Huske and pitcher Erin Pierce. The Lady Blues will be back in action in two weeks when they travel to the St. Cloud State Tournament Feb. 18-19. The 2006 softball media guide is also online.Eastern New Mexico Box Score | Angelo State Box Score | Season Stats | 2006 Washburn Softball Media Guide

Lady Blues softball team opens 2006 season with wins in Texas, media guide now online
(Feb. 4) SAN ANGELO, Texas – The Washburn Lady Blues softball team started their 2006 season with a bang as they opened the first day of the Angelo State Tournament with a 2-0 record defeating Oklahoma Panhandle in the opener 10-2 and then topped the No. 2 Angelo State squad 8-4. In the opener, the Lady Blues scored in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Kala Huske scoring Malarie Fellers, who was hit by a pitch. Washburn blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs on nine hits with two doubles in the inning by Ashley Webb. Erin Pierce picked up the win for Washburn going the distance striking out seven with one walk, allowing two earned runs. In the second game against the second-ranked Rambelles, Washburn’s scored two in the first, three in the second and three in the seventh leading to the 8-4 win. Huske and White each had home runs for the Lady Blues, while White drove in three in the game. Kelly Swygert struck out five allowing three earned runs. Washburn will be back in action on Sunday in bracket play starting at 11 a.m. against Eastern New Mexico. The 2006 softball media guide is also online. Panhandle State Box Score | Angelo State Box Score | Season Stats | 2006 Washburn Softball Media Guide

Lady Blues go 3-0 in day 1 of ESU Fall Tournament
(Sept. 10) EMPORIA, Kan. - The Washburn Lady Blues opened the 2005 fall slate of their schedule with a perfect 3-0 day in the first of two weekends of games in Emporia. The Lady Blues blasted Brown Mackie 16-0, before outdueling Rogers State 5-1, then topping McPherson 10-2. The Lady Blues will return next weekend to Emporia to take on Baker at 9 a.m., then Lincoln at 1 p.m. and wrapping up the day with Kansas Wesleyan at 3 p.m.

Huske named first team all-region catcher
(May 11) TOPEKA - Washburn junior catcher Kala Huske added another individual award to her first team all-MIAA honors as she was named first team all-North Central Region. Huske was the only Lady Blue to receive either first or second team honors. This season Huske led the Lady Blues with a ,343 batting average and tied for the team lead with 29 RBI. She also batted .386 in MIAA play. She will now advance to the national ballot which will be voted on by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association voting members. Huske's 2005 game-by-game stats | Huske's career stats

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