AUBURNDALE, Fla. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team started play at the 2022 Russmatt Invitational on Sunday with a nonconference game against Colby College (ME). After an early 1-0 lead on a line drive to right field, the Blugolds were defeated by the Colby Mules, 9-5.
Cade Mueller (So. Coal City, IL) got things going for Eau Claire in the second inning with a stripe into right field for an RBI single and a 1-0 lead. The Colby Mules answered in the third and fourth with two runs each inning to mount a three-run deficit for UWEC.
Andrew Murphy (Fr. – Mahtomedi, MN) tied things in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run double down the left field line to tie the game at 4-4. David Jansen (So. – Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial), Marc Moll Jr. (Fr. – Homer Glen, IL/Carl Sandberg), and Cade Mueller (So. – Coal City, IL) were all driven home on the play to tie the ball game.
The Mules took back their lead in the fifth and sixth innings with two sacrifice flies, a driven single, and an error to take back their lead. Cade Mueller answered in the seventh with a sacrifice bunt that allowed Jacob Lacy (Sr. – Shawano, WI) to score from third, making it 8-5. Colby added an extra run in the eighth to give the Blugolds their fourth loss of the season, 9-5.
Charley Griffin (Jr. – River Falls, WI) pitched five innings, allowed seven hits, five runs, and had two strikeouts in his second loss of the season. Ryan Parratt (Fr. – Stillwater, MN) and Wyatt Wiitanen (Fr. – Green Bay, WI/Preble) led from the mound with a combined one and one third innings pitched, zero hits, and five strikeouts.
The Blugolds (2-4, WIAC 0-0) will continue play in the 2022 Russmatt Invitational on Monday, March 21st when they face Trinity College (Conn.). The Blugolds and Bantams will faceoff in a single game series tomorrow at 1:30 CST.
