TUCSON, Ariz. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's softball team wrapped up its spring break trip by defeating Carleton College (Minn.) 11-4 and 11-0 in a doubleheader this afternoon at the Tucson Invitational Games.
Carleton opened the early game with two runs in the first, but the Blugolds took advantage of two Knight errors to score four runs of their own. Jenny Hess (So.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln), Emily Muller (Jr.-Lancaster, Wis.) and Emily Haluska (So.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) each tallied unearned runs in the inning. Jess Freagon (Jr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) – who knocked a double to centerfield - scored the only earned run off Haluska's single.
The Blugolds didn't stop with the 4-2 lead; After Eau Claire drew two walks in the fourth, Brittany Bergquist (So.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) launched a homer to push the Blugolds even further ahead. Muller and Freagon nailed doubles in the respective second and fifth innings and Ashley Kenworthy's (So.-Tomah, Wis.) single in the sixth helped the Blugolds to the 11-4 win.
Emily Ruegemer (Fr.-St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) earned her second win of the season. She pitched four innings and notched four strikeouts. Hess had a solid day at the plate, going two-for-three, drawing two walks and scoring three runs.
In the second game against Carleton, the Blugold offense continued to roll. With the bases loaded in the first, Freagon singled to centerfield to score two. The very next batter, Haluska tripled to right center to bring home another two runs. Haluska followed up her first inning performance with another two RBI single to left in the second. Also in the second, Bergquist batted a double to bring Haluska home.
Amanda Houle (Fr.-Chisago City, Minn./Chisago Lakes) and Samantha Weix (So.-Elk Mound, Wis.) hit RBI singles in the first and fourth innings, respectively. The Blugolds also scored two unearned runs from Haley Williams (Fr.-Waunakee, Wis.) and Samantha Preston (Fr.-Altoona, Wis.) in the sixth inning for the 11-0 shutout victory.
Emma Wishau (Fr.-Waterford, Wis./Waterford Union) earned the win by pitching three innings and striking out three batters. The Blugolds limited the Knights to just two hits all game. Freagon and Haluska each went two-for-four at the plate and scored four RBIs.
Eau Claire improves to 11-3 on the season. The Blugolds will host Luther College (Iowa) for a doubleheader on Sunday, April 3. The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Gelein Field.
