EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau baseball team concluded their two-day doubleheader series against the No.10 ranked (d3baseball.com) UW-Whitewater Warhawks on Monday at Bollinger Fields. With plenty of offense between both teams in both games, history repeated itself in dramatic fashion in game two as Drew Salyers (Fr. – Centennial, CO/Arapahoe) hit a two-run walk off double in the bottom of the ninth to split the final doubleheader series with Whitewater, 3-11 and 12-11.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photos
Turning back almost 11 months to the day, UW-Eau Claire upset the Warhawks in the third game of a weekday doubleheader header in a seven inning 11-1 complete game win by Tom Ginther. UWEC looked to play spoiler once again in game two after falling 11-3 in game one. The Blugolds had their work cut out for themselves early as UWW took an 11-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. A wild pitch from the Whitewater's C. Berendt started the string of runs for Eau Claire as Jacob Lacy (Sr. – Shawano, WI) crossed home plate for the fourth run of the game. Nate Witte (So. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) continued his at bat with a single to right field that scored Diego Caicedo (Fr. – Pompano Beach, FL/Northeast) from third to chip away at the lead. During the next at bat, Cade Mueller (So. – Coal City, IL) advanced to third base on the Witte single and then stole home after a failed pick off attempt at first by the Warhawk defense cut the deficit to 11-6.
The bats kept flying for Eau Claire in the seventh as Andrew Murphy (Fr. – Mahtomedi, MN) singled down the right field line to score Ryan Venne (So. – Eau Claire, WI/North) from second base after his inning opening double. Venne recorded back-to-back doubles at the plate as he blasted a single run double in the bottom of the eighth to bring Eau Claire to within two runs. Venne and Witte both had stellar days at the plate as they combined for ten hits and four RBIs in 18 total at bats.
With a two-run deficit facing them in the bottom of the ninth, the Blugolds had their backs against the wall as the first two batters for UWEC accounted for the first two outs of the inning. Otto Treichel (Jr. – Madison, WI/West) stood strong during his at bat as he was hit by a pitch to gain the free base. Diego Caicedo followed the HBP with a single to left field to bring the winning run to the plate. Cade Mueller advanced both runners two bases with a single to the shortstop to bring Drew Salyers to the plate. With the tying run at third and the winning run at first, Salyers blasted the ball into right centerfield as the UWEC bench and fanbase erupted. Caicedo crossed home plate as all eyes were on Cade Mueller who was in a dead sprint as he rounded the bases. The throw home from the cut off fielder wasn't in time as Mueller slid across home and the Eau Claire bench emptied into the field to tackle Salyers after his game winning heroics. Salyers finished the day with three hits and three RBIs during his five plate appearances.
Kendal Lecker (Jr. – Seymour, WI) kept the high-power Whitewater offense quiet in the sixth and seventh innings with two hits, one run, and three strikeouts. Wyatt Wiitanen (Fr. – Green Bay, WI/Preble) and Will Girardi (Fr. – Mackinaw, IL/Dee-Mack) followed suit in the eighth and ninth frames by allowing zero runs and one hit each. Girardi received the win on the day with his closing efforts and his one strikeout in the top of the ninth. He is now 1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (7-13, WIAC 2-8) will continue Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) on Friday, April 15th when they host UW-Platteville at Carson Park four an afternoon doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1PM.
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