CLERMONT, Fla. (Blugolds.com) – The 14th-ranked UW-Eau Claire softball team dropped two games on the fourth day of its Spring Break trip, falling 6-5 to Union College (N.Y.) to start the day and 9-1 in five innings to the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) later in the day at Hancock Park.
In game one against Union, the Blugolds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening inning but gave up six runs in the first two innings and they could never recover after that.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the first, Emily Muller (Sr.-Lancaster, Wis.) hit a single to right field which allowed Emily Haluska (Jr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH), Courtney Nelson (Fr.-Mosinee, Wis./SPASH) and Jess Freagon (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) to score. Muller then scored a run as Emily Ruegemer (So.-St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) hit a single to center field to give the Blugolds a 4-0 lead.
Union scored one run in the bottom of the first but added five in the bottom of the second to take a 6-4 lead. The Blugolds started the fourth inning well as Ruegemer hit a double to open the inning. She scored as the following batter, Nikki Bromelkamp (Sr.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa) singled to center. But from there, Union recorded three straight outs and held on the rest of the game for the 6-5 win.
Muller led the Blugolds with two RBI while she and Ruegemer each had two hits. The Blugolds recorded six hits and had three errors.
Ruegemer took the loss for the Blugolds as she pitched just 1.1 innings and gave up five runs. She faced 10 batters, striking out one. Laura Raflik (Fr.-Plover, Wis./Pacelli) was in the circle for 4.2 innings and faced 16 batters, striking out one.
Facing the Tommies in game two, the Blugolds gave up a run in the initial inning but recovered in the second inning scoring one of their own. With one out, Taylor Pierce (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Nelson and tied the game 1-1.
But St. Thomas went on to score two runs in the third while adding six in the fourth inning. The Blugolds left two runners on bases in the fourth and fifth innings, but the game ended by the eight-run rule following the fifth.
Pitching 3.1 innings, Emma Wishau (So.-Waterford, Wis./Union) was given the loss as she allowed six runs, four of which were earned. She struck out two batters. Ashley Meinen (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) pitched 1.2 innings and faced eight batters.
Eau Claire is now 6-4 on the season.
Friday the Blugolds will complete their 10-game Spring Break trip with two final contests. They face Hope College (Mich.) at 9 a.m. Eastern and will follow with a game against Wellesley (Mass.).
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