ASHWAUBENON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team began Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play on Tuesday with an afternoon doubleheader against UW-Oshkosh in Ashwaubenon, Wis. After falling in a close game 1, Matt Moore (So. – Stillwater, MN) and the Blugolds bounced back with a 3-0 win in game two for the program's first complete game shutout since being reinstated in 2020.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
In game one, the Blugolds found themselves down early after surrendering four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Nate Witte (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) struck back in the sixth with an RBI single to score Drew Salyers (Fr. – Centennial, CO/Arapahoe). Otto Treichel (Jr. – Madison, WI/West) followed Witte in the next at bat with his first homerun of the season to right field to cut the deficit to two runs. Oshkosh added an extra run with a homerun of their own in the eighth inning to defeat Eau Claire, 6-3.
Xavier Estrada (Fr. – Bonita Springs, FL) took his first loss of the year in game one and is now 2-1 on the season. Anthony Scimone (Fr. – Chicago, IL) pitched in relief with five strikeouts while scattering three hits in six innings.
Matt Moore gave Eau Claire control from the mound in game two with his first complete game shutout of his career and the first of the new era of UWEC Baseball. Moore's historic day from the rubber included 11 strikeouts and three walks The sophomore discarded the five hits from 35 Oshkosh batters faced in his nine innings pitched.
As Moore and the Blugold defense locked things down in the bottom innings, Chase Yaeger (so. – Black River Falls, WI) and the UWEC offense took care of business in the later half of the game as Yaeger went 2 for 3 with one RBI to lead the Blugolds at the plate. Andrew Murphy (Fr. – Mahtomedi, MN) drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. After scoring the game's first tally, Yaeger hit an RBI single to left field to drive Walter Johnson (Fr. – Minnetonka, MN) across home plate for a 2-0 lead.
Nate Witte sealed the games final run after a single to second base and two stolen bases got him in scoring position. Murphy collected his second sacrifice fly of the game to send Witte home for the 3-0 final score. Witte currently shares the team lead of stolen bases with Diego Caicedo (Fr. – Pompano Beach, FL/Northeast) with six stolen bags each.
Matt Moore collected his first collegiate win of his career in the 3-0 shutout and is now 1-2 on the season.
The Blugolds (6-6, WIAC 1-1) will continue WIAC play this weekend when they travel to River Falls, WI for two doubleheaders against UW-Stout at FNBRF Field on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 12PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
