CLERMONT, Fla. (Blugolds.com) – The 14th-ranked UW-Eau Claire softball team finished its 10-game Spring Break trip splitting its final two games at Hancock Park today. The Blugolds opened the day with an 8-0 win in five innings over Hope College (Mich.) but fell 4-3 to Wellesley College (Mass.) to end the day.
Against Hope, the Blugolds led 3-0 after four innings and scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the game early.
The Blugolds opened the game by scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Jenny Hess (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) scored the Blugolds' first run as Casey Arnold (Fr.-Kaukauna, Wis.) drove her home.
In the fourth inning with two outs, Emily Haluska (Jr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) scored after Taylor Pierce (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) singled to center field and Pierce then scored as the following batter, Nikki Bromelkamp (Sr.-Zumbrota, Minn./Zumbrota-Mazeppa), brought her home with a single to left.
In the fifth, the Blugolds loaded the bases with no outs when Arnold singled to center field, allowing Emily Muller (Sr.-Lancaster, Wis.) and Hess to score. Pinch hitting for Jess Freagon (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell), Deanna Gilane (Fr.-South Milwaukee, Wis.) then came up and doubled to center field which scored Arnold and Hannah Gaspar (Fr.-Mankato, Minn./Loyola). Bromelkamp then ended the game as she hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Haluska.
Arnold led the Blugolds with three RBI while three Blugolds had two hits each and two Blugolds scored two runs apiece.
Emma Wishau (So.-Waterford, Wis./Union) recorded the win in the circle as she faced 19 batters and gave up just two hits.
In the second game, which the Blugolds led 3-0 after three innings, Wellesley scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth on two two-run homers and hung on for the win.
With one out in the third, Muller hit a single to center field to bring home Amanda Houle (So.-Chisago City, Minn./Chisago Lakes) and Muller later scored in the inning after an Arnold sacrifice fly. Gaspar was the final Blugold to score a run in the inning after Haluska singled to left field.
Both teams finished with seven hits and two errors. Haluska and Pierce led the Blugolds with two hits each.
Ashley Meinen (Sr.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) took the loss as she gave up all four runs. She struck out four batters but gave up five hits as she faced 16 batters. Laura Raflik (Fr.-Plover, Wis./Pacelli) and Wishau also saw time in the circle.
The Blugolds are now 7-5 on the season.
Tuesday the Blugolds will head to Decorah, Iowa for a doubleheader against Luther College. Action will get underway at 3 p.m.
-KM-
