DALLAS, Texas (Blugolds.com)—After two losses Monday evening to No. 4 UT-Tyler, the UW-Eau Claire Softball team came back with a vengeance against UT-Dallas. Timely hits and big defensive plays would help the Blugolds sweep the Comets with scores of 9-5 and 10-2, respectively.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
The first game remained scoreless until the 3rd inning where a double from Leah Wolff (So.-Middleton, WI) would set up a scoring play off a hard ground ball up the middle by Taylor Pierce (Sr.-Ashwaubenon, WI). UT-Dallas answered right back and scored two runs to take a one run lead but UW-Eau Claire (5-7) was just getting started. In the 4th inning, two errors and two walks from the Comets allowed the Blugolds to score three more runs and advance the score 4-2.
UT-Dallas (10-10) once again brought the sticks and in the bottom of the 6th, a two-out homerun over the left field fence would give them the lead. Down one, heading into the top of the 7th inning, Kelsey Meredith (So.-Golden Valley, MN/Armstrong) sent a ball up the middle to get things rolling for the Blugolds. Meredith advanced to second on the next play and a runner hit by a pitch made their way to first base when Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) made her way to the box. Fischer too would send a hard ground ball through the middle infield and then advance to second base on the throw that scored Meredith to tie the game at five apiece. With two outs, Kenzie Winning got on base after a third baseman error and advanced to second base on the overthrow to first while two of the three runners would score. Nikki Brooks (Sr.-Hammond, WI/St. Croix Central) knocked in one more run to end their inning, Blugolds leading 9-5. UT-Dallas would put only one runner on in the 7th and that would not be enough as UW-Eau Claire grabbed win number one on the day.
The Blugold bats remained hot in game two as Pierce opened up play with a first pitch homerun sent over the left field fence. Six more runs came in as UW-Eau Claire pulled away early in the 2nd inning and never looked back. A dive and roll catch from Brooks near the infield dirt would carry the momentum defensively to start the bottom of the 4th. UT-Dallas put up two runs on a homerun just one play later but the Blugolds would hold strong to end the inning. Three more Eau Claire runs would score in last two innings to end the game 10-2 in six innings.
Meredith would lead all hitters today in her first two starts of the season. She went 5-for-6 with a double, a homerun, two RBIs, and two stolen bases in combined games.
"Simplification was the key to her [Meredith] feeling in control," said Head Coach Leslie Huntington. "Once that happened, her confidence went up. She had some phenomenal defensive plays that were a huge spark for us."
Laura Raflik (Sr. Plover, WI/Pacelli) and Zana Lorbetske (Jr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) claimed the wins for the Blugolds. Raflik would have two strikeouts while Lorbetske added eight more in game two.
"We saw fight we haven't seen up to this point," added Huntington. "It's rewarding to see that fight and be successful in the win column. We need that going into tomorrow."
UW-Eau Claire will take on No. 2 East Texas Baptist University in a Military Appreciation Game Wednesday at 3:00 and 5:00pm.
-MRW-