WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire softball team swept No. 11 UW-Whitewater on Sunday, winning game one 5-2 in nine innings and game two 2-0 to move to 7-1 in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Coach's Recap
The Blugolds struck first in game one, taking advantage of a walk and Warhawk error in the first inning. Eau Claire would add another run in the third; Taylor Pierce (Sr.-Ashwaubenon, WI) doubled to right center and would score on the next play on a Casey Arnold (Sr.Kaukauna, WI) single down the left field line. However, Whitewater answered in the bottom half of the inning of the inning with a homerun.
Both offenses stalled until the bottom of the seventh, when Whitewater was able to capitalize on Blugold miscues to put an unearned run on the board and send the game into extra innings.
The game would remain knotted at two until the top of the ninth. Kenzie Winning (So.-Waupun, WI) got things started for the Blugolds, drawing a walk to start the inning. After a Sam Noetzelman (So.-Golden Valley, MN/Armstrong) sacrifice bunt moved Winning to second, pinch hitter Morgan Lecheler (So.-Menomonie, WI) singled to center field, advancing Winning to third base. Kelsey Meredith (So. Delano, MN) re-entered to run for Lecheler and immediately stole second base. Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) then stepped up to the plate and knocked a single through the left side, scoring Winning. On the next play, Pierce hit a sacrifice fly to right field which scored Meredith. Eau Claire scored their final run when Arnold reached on a Warhawk error that scored Fischer.
Whitewater threatened in the bottom of the ninth, but the Blugold defense held on for the 5-2 win.
Fischer led the Blugolds at the plate, going 2-for-3 while Arnold was 2-for-4.
Laura Raflik (Sr.-Plover, WI/Pacelli) earned the win in the circle, scattering three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out seven in 7.1 innings.
In game two, the Blugolds got on the board in the second inning after Rachel Heffel (So.-Racine, WI/Case) roped a triple to right field and would score on the next play on a groundout to the shortstop.
The next few innings would prove to be a defensive battle, with neither team getting a runner past first base. The Warhawks threatened in the sixth, advancing a runner to third after a double, but the Blugold defense would hold strong and get out of the inning.
In the top of the seventh, the Blugolds would add another run after Heffel drew a walk and stole second, getting herself in scoring position for Winning who would double to right center to score Heffel, giving Eau Claire the 2-0 lead.
Lauren Blaszcyk (So.-Appleton, WI/East) would shut down the Warhawks in the final frame, recording two strikeouts to earn her third shut-out of the week. Going the full seven innings, the sophomore scattered five hits and struck out five batters.
At the plate, Winning and Heffel led Eau Claire, going 2-for-3 and 1-for-2, respectively.
The Blugolds (16-12, 7-1 WIAC) return to Carson Park this week, hosting UW-River Falls on Thursday at 4 p.m.
-JM-
