Raider softball sweeps Old Abes; will play ECN Thursday

• Kindra Witthus slides safely into home

Hudson freshman Kindra Witthus slides safely into home to score on a double by Betsie Ferguson in the fifth inning of the Raider softball team’s 7-0 win over Eau Claire Memorial in the first game of a doubleheader last Tuesday at Grandview Park. Bob Burrows photo

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The Raider softball team wrapped up the regular season by sweeping Eau Claire Memorial, 7-0 and 6-1, in a Big Rivers Conference doubleheader last Tuesday at Grandview Park.

The Raiders ended the regular season with a record of 9-3 in the BRC, 17-4 overall, and earned the No. 2 seed in this week’s WIAA regional tournament. They opened play Tuesday, June 1, at home against No. 7 seed River Falls (4-16). A win would pit them against either third-seed Eau Claire North (12-6) or seventh-seed Superior (5-17), Thursday, June 3, at 4:30 p.m. at Grandview Park. (Post press-time note: The Raiders shut out River Falls by a score of 4-0 to advance. They will play Eau Claire Thursday evening at home.)

The regional champion moves on to the sectional semifinal Tuesday, June 8, at a site to be determined.

In their final regular season action last Tuesday, Hudson snapped a scoreless tie with three runs in the fourth inning, and pitcher Abby Singerhouse did the rest, striking out nine and giving up just three hits in a 7-0 shutout in the first game of the doubleheader.

Betsie Ferguson had two hits, including an RBI double to highlight a two-run fifth inning, while Kindra Witthus was hit by a pitch, doubled in a run and scored twice and Courtney Whaley doubled and scored a run.

Monica Hendricks drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run in the fourth and later scored, while Devan DuCharme, Erin Anderson and Missy Tenant each had a hit and scored a run.

In the nightcap, which was suspended after six innings due to rain, Singerhouse had a two-run single in the first and later scored on a base hit by Whaley, as the Raiders jumped out to a 4-0 lead on their way to a 6-1 win.

DuCharme had a hit and RBI in the victory while had an RBI double and scored a run while Tennant picked up an RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the first. Shelby Berger also singled and scored.

Whaley picked up the win on the mound, allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out four and walking none.

Tags: sports, softball, raiders, prep