ROSEMOUNT, Minn. (blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire softball team went 0-2 on their opening weekend against Buena Vista University at the Irish Sports Dome in Rosemount, MN.
In game one, the Blugolds jumped to an early lead. In the top of the first with one out and a full count, Rachel Heffel (So. Racine, Wis./Case) sent a line drive to left field for a double and stole third just two pitches later. A double from Taylor Pierce (Sr. Ashwaubenon, Wis.) sent Heffel off for home plate and UW-Eau Claire went up 1-0. BVU would answer back and score one of their own to tie up the game at one a piece.
The next scoring play wouldn't come until the bottom of the third inning as the Beavers picked up three runs on a Blugold error. A ground ball single would score Boland and BVU ended the inning up 4-1.
In the top of the sixth, UW-Eau Claire started off with a line drive single to right field by Amanda Fischer. A batter later, Pierce who would hit a line drive single to left. Casey Arnold (Sr. Kaukauna, Wis.) then singled to third base. With bases loaded, Nikki Brooks' (Sr. Hammond, Wis./St. Croix Central) fielder's choice to the shortstop scored Fischer. The inning ended with a groundout to third base.
BVU scored in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to 5-2, where it would stay until game's end.
Game two saw a very different Eau Claire squad. While the lineup remained the same, with addition of pitcher Lauren Blasczyk (So. Appleton, Wis./East), the Blugolds defense came out stronger than the game before as they went three up three down in the top of the first.
The first scoring play would come late in the bottom of the fourth as a high fly ball from Deanna Gilane (Sr. South Milwaukee, Wis.) scored Pierce from third. UW-Eau Claire would hold 1-0 until the top of the sixth when BVU, with two runners on, sent a bunt in front of home plate. Runners on second and third each moved up one spot, tying the game at 1-1. A ground ball hit to second base would score the runner on third and two strikeouts by Blasczyk would end the inning.
No team would score for the remainder of the game, as Buena Vista captured win number two of the day with a score 3-2.
UW-Eau Claire couldn't come up with any big hits, leaving 12 runners on base overall for both games. Pierce went 5-for-6 on the day with four singles and a double to lead the Blugolds.
The Blugolds will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Rochester. Minn. to play Central (Iowa) at the Rochester Dome Tournament hosted by Luther College.
-MRW-
