ROCHESTER, Minn. (Blugolds.com)— The UW-Eau Claire softball team split their double header against No. 10 Central College (Iowa) at the Rochester Dome in the second weekend of season play.
Coach Huntington's Recap | Player Recap-Deanna Gilane
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
In game one, the Blugolds were first to score in the bottom of the 4th inning on a Deanna Gilane (Sr. South Milwaukee, WI) solo home run over the left field fence. That would be the only run UWEC would score all game. The Blugolds, unable to come up with hits, would collectively leave 11 runners on base. Central brought the bats in the top of the fifth, scoring five of their seven runs in that inning. Four of those runs came with no outs. One more run would score after an Eau Claire pitching change.
The seventh inning saw another big play for Central when a 2 out homerun would score two more runs for the Dutch. Unable to rally in the bottom of the inning, the game ended 7-1 with Central on top.
UW-Eau Claire found the spark they needed in game two of the series. The first two innings went by quickly as each pitcher only saw three to four batters a piece. In the bottom of the third, Central College would score first this time but their lead wouldn't last long. Leah Wolff (So. Middleton, WI) hit a hard ground ball to the third base line, beating out the throw to first. After a popup was caught by Central's pitcher, Taylor Pierce (Sr. Ashwaubenon, WI) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second. With two outs, an RBI single from Rachel Heffel (So. Racine, WI/Case) would tie the game 1-1.
The Blugolds would take a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth. With bases loaded, a single by Nikki Brooks (Sr. Hammond, WI/St. Croix Central) would score Amanda Fischer (Sr. Wausau, WI/West), beating out the throw to home.
In the top of the seventh inning, shortstop Kenzie Winning (So. Waupun, WI) would break the game wide open. With two outs and bases loaded, Winning stepped up to the plate. She took a first strike looking, followed by a ball and then fouled off the next two pitches. That fifth pitch would be the game changer for the Blugolds as Winning sent it over the center field fence, adding four runs to the scoreboard.
"I've been struggling with being late on my swing and always hitting it either to the right side of the field or not at all," said Winning. "I was up in the box, saying in my mind 'back up the middle, back up the middle, back up the middle. I knew I couldn't not hit that ball."
Winning's spark gave the Blugolds the insurance runs they needed going into the bottom of the seventh inning. The defense went 1-2-3 to seal a 6-1 victory.
Pitcher Laura Raflik (Sr. Plover, WI/Pacelli) recorded the win, allowing only 2 hits on 88 pitches. Big hitters today for the Blugolds included Heffel who went 5-for-8 with an RBI, Gilane at 4-for-6 with an RBI, and Winning who is credited with 4 RBIs on the day.
The Blugolds (1-3) will be back in action March 19 as they begin their spring break trip at Illinois Wesleyan.
-MRW-
