AUBURNDALE, Fla. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team continued play in the 2022 Russmatt Invitational on Monday as they faced off against Trinity College (Conn.). After taking an early lead, the Blugolds held on with stellar defense for a 10-9 victory.
Eau Claire wasted no time gaining the game's first lead as Nate Witte (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 lead. The Trinity Bantams answered back in the second and third on two fielding plays to create a one run deficit for UWEC.
Witte continued his outstanding day with a bases clearing triple to take back the lead, 3-2. Diego Caicedo (Fr. – Pompano Beach, FL/Northeast) and Drew Salyers (Fr. – Centennial, CO/Arapahoe) both earned a run each after getting on base for Witte's RBI's. Andrew Murphy (Fr. - Mahtomedi) followed Witte's strike on the very next at bat with a double to left field to score Nate and increase the lead to 4-2.
In the fourth inning, the Blugolds found themselves with the bases loaded. Back-to-back walks by Witte and Murphy, scored Ryan Venne (So. – Eau Claire, WI/North) and Scott Richards (So. – Orland Park, IL/Carl Sandberg), to increase the lead to four.
Scott Richards did his part in the fifth inning with an RBI single into right field to score Venne and then, Richards scored himself before the fifth inning ended for UWEC's biggest lead of the season, 9-2.
Trinity would not go away quietly as they scored seven runs in the final three innings to make it a one run game. With the bases loaded, one out on the board, and the tying run on third, Nico Smith (Fr. – Chicago, IL/Taft) earned his first collegiate save after the Bantam batter flied out to center field, and Nate Witte through out the tying run at home to end the game.
In his first start of the year, Xavier Estrada (Fr. – Bonita Springs, FL) finished his day with eight strikeouts and kept the Bantams to just two hits, two runs, and four walks in his second win of the season.
The Blugolds (3-4, WIAC 0-0) will be back on the field for the Russmatt Invitational on Tuesday, as they face Union College (NY) at 10AM CST.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
