OSHKOSH, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire softball team split with UW-Oshkosh on Saturday, falling 4-2 in game one and winning game two 9-0 to snap a 10-game Titan winning streak.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score |
The Titans got on the board early in game one, taking advantage of a Blugold miscue to score an unearned run. Oshkosh struck again in the third, tallying two homeruns to take a 3-0 lead.
The Blugolds notched their first run in the fifth thanks to a Taylor Pierce (Sr.-Ashwaubenon, WI) single to center that plated Kenzie Winning (So.-Waupun, WI) However, the Titans would respond with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to maintain the three-run lead, 4-1.
In the seventh, Nikki Brooks (Sr.-Hammond, WI/St. Croix Central) led off with a walk and would later score as Pierce doubled to centerfield to record her second RBI of the day. However, the comeback would come up short as the Blugolds fell to the Titans 4-2.
Pierce led the Blugolds, going 2-for-3, tallying half of the Blugolds hits and knocking in both runs.
Zana Lorbetske (Jr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) (6-3) took the loss for Eau Claire, giving up three hits, three runs (two earned) in 2.2 innings. Laura Raflik (Sr.-Plover, WI/Pacelli) closed the game for the Blugolds, giving up two hits and a run in 3.1 innings of work.
Game two proved to be a different story, as Eau Claire exploded for six runs in the first two innings.
Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) and Pierce got the Blugolds rolling, hitting back-to-back singles to left field to start the game and would advance to second and third on a double-steal. Casey Arnold (Sr.-Kaukauna, WI) drew a walk to load the bases, but a line shot by Deanna Gilane (Sr.-South Milwaukee, WI) was snagged by the Titan shortstop who was able to double up Pierce. On the next play, Leah Wolff (So.-Middleton, WI) reached on an error by the Titan first baseman, allowing two Blugolds to score.
In the second, Eau Claire picked up where they left off in the first, with Brooks starting the inning with a double to left field. After a sacrifice bunt, Fischer singled to center to score Brooks. Pierce followed with a 2-run blast to centerfield, putting the Blugolds up 5-0.
Eau Claire was not yet done, as Arnold singled to right field and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Wolff then singled to right field and Rachel Heffel (So.-Racine, WI/Case) singled to center to score Arnold as the Blugolds would finish the inning with a six-run lead.
Eau Claire added to their lead in the fourth, as Winning singled to right field scoring Emily Pomykalski (So.-Cross Plains, WI/Middleton) pinch running for Gilane who has reached on a Titan error. The Blugolds would tack on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a 2-run homer by Fischer, giving Eau Claire the 9-0 lead. The Titans went down in order in the seventh, sealing the Blugold victory.
The Blugolds pounded out 14 hits in game two with Fischer and Pierce both going 3-for-5 with homeruns. Wolff and Heffel also finished 2-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively.
Lauren Blasczyk (So.-Appleton, WI/East) (3-7) earned the complete-game shutout for the Blugolds, scattering two hits and striking out eight Titans.
The Blugolds (14-12, 5-1 WIAC) will travel to Whitewater on Sunday to take on the 11th-ranked Warhawks. First pitch is slated for 12 p.m.
-JM-
