Softball Preview: Blue Devils take to the road at La Crosse, Platteville

Live Stats vs. UW-La Crosse | Live Stats vs. UW-Platteville

THIS WEEK'S GAMES: The Blue Devils (8-14, 0-2 WIAC) go full throttle into conference play this week, hosting UW-Eau Claire (11-11, 2-0 WIAC), Wednesday, April 8 at 4 p.m., then taking to the road Saturday, April 11 at UW-La Crosse (14-6, 0-0 WIAC) and Sunday, April 12 at UW-Platteville (8-10, 0-0 WIAC).

UW-STOUT: The Blue Devils are coming off a 2014 campaign that featured 27 wins, which were the most since the 2004 season.  The 2015 roster includes two seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and seven freshmen – and is led by junior Tori Workman who claimed WIAC Pitcher of the Year recognition a year ago.  She set the school single-season strikeout record with her final pitch of the season and led the conference with a 1.63 earned run average, 160 strikeouts and 176.1 innings pitched.  Head coach Chris Stainer, the WIAC coach of the year last season, recently earned her 300th career victory. In a preseason poll, the Blue Devils were picked to finish second in the WIAC.

Tori Workman (7-7) leads the Blue Devils from the circle and at the plate. Workman has tossed 89.0 innings so far this season, starting 13 games and making 19 appearances with an ERA of 3.07 and a conference-leading 84 strikeouts. When Workman is not pitching, she can be found in centerfield. At the plate, Workman is hitting .347 (26-75) with a team-best 17 runs batted in, tallying a league-leading nine doubles, two triples and a home run. Rachel Thomas has pushed her batting average to over .300, hitting .306 (15-49).  Among starters, Nicole Rogers is hitting .288 (15-52). Rogers plays centerfield when Workman is pitching and slides over to right field when Workman is not throwing. Left fielder Sara Griesbach is batting .292 (19-65) with nine RBI. Taylor Workman has made the mvoe from designated player to starting first baseman and is hitting .293 (17-58) with 12 RBI. Workman is second on the team in RBI with 12 and leads the team with two home runs. | 2015 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS LAST TIME OUT: After getting blanked in a shortened first game, UW-Stout had their chances in the second game, but twice left the bases loaded and were swept by 13th ranked UW-Whitewater, 11-0, 8-3, Thursday at Alumni Field in Stout's home opener and both team's conference opener. | Game Story and Stats

UW-EAU CLAIRE:  UW-Eau Claire has 16 letterwinners back from a year ago, including senior Amanda Fischer, who could become the fourth four-time All-WIAC first team selection in program history.  In 2014, she led the league with 49 runs scored and 31 stolen bases, while posting a team-high .700 slugging percentage, 43 RBI and 11 home runs.  Fischer claimed WIAC Position Player of the Year recognition in 2013.  Senior Taylor Pierce led last year's squad with a .406 batting average, while senior Laura Raflik recorded 10 victories and a 2.52 earned run average in 91.2 innings pitched.

Amanda Fischer is among the conference's leaders in batting average, hitting .392 (29-74) with a league-best 22 runs batted in and has five home runs. Taylor Pierce is hitting .373 (25-67) with seven doubles and four sacrifice hits. Casey Arnold is hitting .333 (16-48) and has 16 RBI. Rachel Heffel is hitting .317 (20-63). The Blugolds have been tossing predominately three pitchers. Zana Lorbetske has a team-high 12 appearances with a 5-2 overall record, posting a 3.02 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 50.2 innings pitched. Lauren Blasczyk is 2-6 overall with an ERA of 3.19 and 27 strikeouts in 42.1 innings and Laura Raflik is 4-3 with an ERA of 4.63 and 25 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.

BLUGOLDS LAST TIME OUT: Eau Claire put up the big bats and swept a pair of game over UW-Stevens Point, April 3, 14-5, 13-2, in Stevens Point. Eau Claire pounded out 15 hits in each game. In game one catcher Casey Arnold went two-for-three from the plate knocking in three runs, being walked twice and scoring a run.  In game two, Arnold went three-for-four from the plate which included a double while racking up three more RBI against the Pointers. Arnold was named the WIAC athlete of the week  | Game Story and Statistics | 2015 Statistics

LAST YEAR WHEN THEY MET: Stout won both meetings last year, 8-6, 8-4, in Eau Claire. In the nightcap, Hannah Sweet hit a two run home run and Sam Hastings cleared the bases with a double in a five-run ninth inning to give Stout their first sweep over the Blugolds since the 2003 season.  | Game Story and Statistics

UW-LA CROSSE: UW-La Crosse has 13 letterwinners returning from a season ago and has won at least 20 games in seven straight seasons – the longest stretch in program history.  Junior Megan Nelson led the Eagles with a .427 batting average and tied for high honors with 14 multi-hit contests, while contributing a team-best 10 victories and tying for the team high with three saves on the mound.  Junior Emilie Wiltzius led the squad with six home runs and tied for the team lead with eight multi-RBI games.  UW-La Crosse brings back three of its four pitchers from a year ago, accounting for 240.1 of 243.0 innings pitched. | 2015 Statistics

UW-PLATTEVILLE:  UW-Platteville's welcomes back four of its top-six hitters from the 2014 squad, including senior Lisa Karau, who led the team with a .425 batting average, .650 slugging percentage, 35 runs scored and 35 RBI.  Senior MJ Patten was second on the squad with a .397 batting average.  On the mound, sophomore Jess Butzen tossed 139.1 innings last season and recorded 90 strikeouts.  UW-Platteville's 16 victories a season ago were the second-most since the 2003 campaign. | 2015 Statistics

BLUE DEVILS LAST SEASON: The Blue Devils are coming off a 2014 campaign that featured 27 wins, which were the most since the 2004 season.  The 2015 roster includes two seniors, six juniors, three sophomores and seven freshmen – and is led by junior Tori Workman who claimed WIAC Pitcher of the Year recognition a year ago.  She set the school single-season strikeout record with her final pitch of the season and led the conference with a 1.63 earned run average, 160 strikeouts and 176.1 innings pitched.  Head coach Chris Stainer, the WIAC coach of the year last season, recently earned her 300th career victory | 2014 Statistics

AWARDS AND HONORS: Tori Workman was the WIAC pitcher of the week after her first six games this season. Last season, Workman was the WIAC Pitcher of the Year and an all-region pick. Lynzi Knudtson was a WIAC honorable mention selection

2015 TEAM CAPTAINS: Team captains for the 2015 season are seniors Lynzi Knudtson and Taylor Workman and juniors Tori Workman and Nicole Rogers.

COACHES: Blue Devil coach Chris Stainer (304-384, overall; 286-359 at UW-Stout) is in her 17th season at Stout and her 18th season overall. UW-Eau Claire: Leslie Huntington is in her 14th season (380-199) with the Blugolds

ON DECK: The Blue Devils will host UW-Stevens Point, Saturday, April 18 at 1 p.m. and UW-Oshkosh, Sunday, April 19 at noon.