WHITEWATER, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team was swept in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) doubleheader at UW-Whitewater on Monday, falling to the 10th-ranked Warhawks 10-8 and 12-3. Nate Witte (Jr. - Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) had a big day for the Blugolds, tallying five hits — including two homers — across both contests and finishing a single shy of the cycle in Game 1.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The Blugolds led early in Game 1 and after surrendering the lead, managed to tie the score in the sixth. However, they couldn't hold on against the nationally ranked Warhawks.
UW-Eau Claire went ahead in the top of the first frame of the day when Witte blasted a solo home run to center field. The Warhawks responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, but the Blugolds retook the lead in the second when Austin Buck (Fr. - Stillwater, Minn.) hit an RBI triple and Witte hit an RBI double. It put UW-Eau Claire ahead 3-2 entering the bottom of the second.
UW-Whitewater used a two-run homer and a two-RBI triple to surge in front 6-2 in the bottom of the second. The Blugolds chipped away thanks to a sacrifice fly by Witte and an RBI double from Andrew Murphy (Jr. - Mahtomedi, Minn.) in the fourth. Ethan Plantz (Jr. - South Elgin, Ill./Elgin Academy) tied the game with an RBI groundout in the fifth.
The Warhawks tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to stake an 8-6 lead, but the Blugolds had one more push in them. UW-Eau Claire plated two runs on an RBI triple by Witte and a sac fly by Chase Yaeger (Jr. - Black River Falls, Wis.) in the top of the sixth. However, UW-Whitewater pulled away with a run in the bottom of the sixth and another in the eighth.
Witte finished 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Buck went 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Murphy and Drew Salyers (So. - Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe) had two hits apiece.
Sebastian De La Toba (Fr. - Chula Vista, Calif./Olympian) pitched two innings on the mound. He allowed five earned runs and struck out two. Charley Griffin (Sr. - River Falls, Wis.) was tagged with the loss after working four innings and allowing one earned run. He struck out three and walked none. Edgar Barba (Fr. - Aurora, Ill./East Aurora) pitched two innings in relief and allowed one run.
UW-Whitewater took the lead first in Game 2 by plating three runs in the bottom of the third. They added another run in the fourth before the Blugolds got on the board in the top of the fifth. Salyers ripped a two-RBI triple to left-center to make it a 3-2 Warhawks lead.
The Warhawks put three more runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, but Witte answered with a solo home run in the top of the sixth. That was the final run the Blugolds scored, while UW-Whitewater added on five more runs in the seventh.
Witte, Walter Johnson (So. - Minnetonka, Minn.) and Calvin Schmitz (So. - Monticello, Minn.) all tallied two hits for the offense.
PJ Ford (Fr. - Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows) started on the mound and threw 4.1 innings. He allowed five earned runs and struck out one. Travis Thompson (Fr. - Laurel, Md./Reservoir) pitched 1.2 scoreless innings of relief and Parker White (So. - Hortonville, Wis.) also pitched a shutout frame out of the bullpen.
UW-Eau Claire will return to action on Thursday, April 13, with a game at Hamline University. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minn.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
