STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Blugolds.com)— The UW-Eau Claire Softball Team picked up two wins Friday afternoon against UW-Stevens Point in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opener. The Blugolds ended the first game with a 14-5 score and ran to a 13-2 score in game two.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
UWEC opened scoring in game one after an error by the UW-Stevens Point shortstop scored one runner. Casey Arnold (Sr.-Kaukauna, WI) sent a hard ground ball up the middle to score one more run before the end of the 1st half of inning one. The Pointers had two runs of their own and the 1st inning would end tied at 2-2. But the Blugolds had plenty to say and in the 2nd inning as they added five more runs off of five hits. Deanna Gilane (Sr.-South Milwaukee, WI) started the rally when she put a ball through the middle infield. Two runners would be on base as Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) stepped to the plate and hit a hard ground ball to score one run. On the next play, a base hit bunt chalked another run up before Leah Wolff (So.-Middleton, WI) singled through the right side and a UWSP error added two more runs. Another Pointer error would help the Blugolds get run number five as they pushed the lead 7-2.
Stevens Point scored one more run in the bottom of the 4th but that would not be enough as UW-Eau Claire was able to earn four more runs on six big hits, including two doubles, in the next three innings.
Taylor Pierce (Sr.-Ashwaubenon, WI) went 3-for-3 in the opener while Arnold and Wolff each had three RBIs.
The Blugolds were quick to strike again in the second game, putting up one run in the 1st inning. Heading into the 3rd inning with a score tied at 1-1, UW-Eau Claire broke the game wide open. A heads up play at home plate by Fischer scored the first of five runs in the 3rd. Arnold batted another run in off a line drive to left field. Then a Kenzie Winning (So.-Waupun, WI) homerun added three more runs to advance the Eau Claire lead 6-1.
Two more runs came in the 5th and another in the 6th. Leading 9-2 at the top of the 7th inning, three Blugolds would come up with hits to load the bases. Fischer then took a first pitch and sent a line drive over the center field fence for a grandslam and four insurance runs. The Pointers, unable to score in the bottom of the 7th, fell 13-2.
Eau Claire put together 30 total hits, 15 in each game, on the day. Team leaders included Arnold who went 5-for-7 with a double and five RBIs as well as Pierce, going 4-for-7 with a double. Fischer also had a day that included a 4-for-8 performance with a double, homerun, 6 RBIs, and two stolen bases.
The Blugolds only had one error to five committed by UWSP. They also had a team batting average of .417 as well as eight stolen bases.
UW-Eau Claire moves to 11-11 overall, 2-0 in WIAC play. Next up, the Blugolds will travel to I-94 rivals UW-Stout on Wednesday, April 8th for a double header starting at 4 and 6pm.
-MRW-