EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire baseball team hosted UW-Stevens Point for a doubleheader to open a four-game series on Saturday at Carson Park. The 23rd-ranked Pointers won the first game 11-3 and the second 11-1.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The Blugolds got out to a good start to the day. Walter Johnson (So. - Minnetonka, Minn.) launched a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the first inning of the opening game, but the Blugolds wouldn't score again until fifth. Meanwhile, UW-Stevens Point scored four times in the third inning to take the lead. The Pointers went ahead 6-0 with two more runs in the fourth and plated three more runs in the top of the fifth.
Johnson cleared the fences again in the fifth. He blasted a two-run shot over the wall in right-center to make it a 9-3 game. UW-Eau Claire's offense couldn't make up any more ground though, and the Pointers tacked on lone runs in the eighth and ninth innings to seal an 11-3 win.
Johnson finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs in the loss. Matt Moore (Jr. - Stillwater, Minn.) started on the mound and pitched 3.1 innings. He allowed six runs and struck out two. Brennan Cohen (So. - Vestavia Hills, Ala.) pitched three innings in relief and limited the Pointers to one run.
The second game of the day ended in seven innings. The Pointers scored once in the first and once in the second to take an early lead, but didn't break it open until the fourth. UW-Stevens Point scored six times in the fourth, turning a 2-0 lead into an 8-0 advantage.
Austin Buck (Fr. - Stillwater, Minn.) pulled a run back for the Blugolds in the bottom of the fourth. He hit an RBI single to left field. It was the only time the Blugolds could cross the plate against tough pitching. UW-Stevens Point scored three runs in the fifth to go up 11-1 and held on to end the game in seven.
Andrew Murphy (Jr. - Mahtomedi, Minn.) went 3 for 3 with a run scored in game two. Travis Thompson (Fr. - Laurel, Md./Reservoir) got the start on the hill and worked three innings. He allowed three earned runs and struck out one. Justin Coronado (So. - Atascocita, Tex.) and Ky Mueller (Fr. - Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) both pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Coronado struck out two.
The series is scheduled to continue on Sunday, April 30, at Carson Park. The doubleheader begins at 12 p.m.
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