TUCSON, Ariz. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire softball team went 1-1 today, wrapping up its Spring Break trip at the Tucson Invitational Games with a 7-3 record. The Blugolds opened the day with a 5-2 loss to Chapman University (Calif.) and then bounced back to beat Whittier College (Calif.) 9-0 in five innings.
Chapman Box Score | Whittier Box Score
In game one, the Blugolds got down early and couldn't recover. Chapman scored three runs in the bottom of the first and led 4-0 after two innings. Deanna Gilane (Jr.-South Milwaukee, Wis.) cut Chapman's lead to three with a solo home run in the top of the third but Chapman answered with a homer in the bottom of the inning. The Blugolds added one more run in the top of the sixth with Amanda Fischer (Jr.-Wausau, Wis./West) scoring after a Nikki Brooks (Jr.-New Richmond, Wis./St. Croix Central) double.
Three different Blugolds each recorded a hit as the team finished with a season-low three hits.
Laura Raflik (Jr.-Plover, Wis./Pacelli) pitched the complete game and allowed seven hits and five runs, only three of which were earned. She struck out four batters and is now 3-1 on the season.
In the second game, the Blugolds got out to a fast start, scoring five runs in the first two innings. They added four more in the top of the fifth inning and the game came to an end after Whittier failed to get back to within seven runs.
Fischer led the Blugolds with four hits, one being a two-run homer in the second inning, while the team totaled 13 hits, tying for the second most in a game this season. She also had a game-high three RBI and three runs. Brooks also hit a home run in the second inning.
Emma Wishau (Sr.-Burlington, Wis./Waterford Union) pitched the complete game and allowed just four hits while striking out four batters. She is now 4-1 on the season.
Eau Claire is now 10-4 this year.
Next weekend the Blugolds will be in Iowa for six more games, Friday-Sunday. They will open the weekend with a doubleheader against fourth-ranked Central College (Iowa) Friday at 2 p.m.
-KM-