EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com)— The sun was shining on what was the perfect for softball Saturday afternoon. Gelein Field was packed as spectators came not only for Alumni Day but for Senior and Parent Day as well. The UW-Eau Claire Softball team battled UW-La Crosse in a conference double header, earning a split with respective scores of 12-2 (5 innings) and 9-7 (8 innings).
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photos
In game one, the Eagles were quick to strike with two runs in the 1st inning. The Blugolds would add one of their own and trail heading into the 2nd. After holding La Crosse, the UW-Eau Claire offense found their spark. With one out and a runner on first, Kelsey Meredith (So.-Golden Valley, MN/Armstrong) set a ball over the left field fence and the Blugolds would lead 3-2. Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) then singled through the right side, stole second, and scored just one play later as Casey Arnold (Sr.-Kaukauna, WI) hit a blooper over the second baseman's head and into center field. Next up for UW-Eau Claire was Deanna Gilane (Sr.-South Milwaukee, WI). A 3-2 count and a runner on second with one out, a low fly ball to right field would score Arnold and chalk up a triple for Gilane. The inning would close with UW-Eau Claire leading 5-2.
But the Blugolds weren't finished yet. After holding the Eagles scoreless for another inning, UW-Eau Claire added five more runs to extend the lead by eight. After a walk, Sam Noetzelman (So.-Delano, MN) would get the hits going off a base hit bunt to third base. A sacrifice bunt from Meredith put both runners in scoring postion. Fischer then took a 3-2 count and turned it into a three-run homerun that soared over the fence in left center. One more runner would get on base from a walk before Gilane would put yet another ball over the left field fence, this time following the left foul line.
UW-La Crosse would not score again as Eau Claire plated two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to seal the 12-2 victory in 5 innings.
Lauren Blasczyk (So.-Appleton, WI/East) got the win for Blugolds, throwing less than 50 pitches. She allowed only three hits and walked no batters while giving up just one earned run.
In game two, the Eagles were first on the board again with two runs off of hits that included both a double and a triple. UW-Eau Claire put up one run in the bottom of the 1st from a Fischer single up the middle and an Eagle error that would score her. La Crosse managed one more run in the 2nd inning before Kenzie Winning (So.-Waupun, WI) would shut down their momentum with a huge diving catch behind third base to end the inning. Three stikeouts from Zana Lorbetske (Jr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) in the top of the 3rd would give the Blugolds a chance to score a few more. They put up one more run but still trailed 3-2.
Eau Claire took their lead in the 6th inning, scoring five runs. Leading off for the Blugolds was Fischer who sent a line drive down the right line to earn a triple. Pierce then hit a blooper to right center as Fischer scored. With one out, Gilane's hard ground ball through the left side tied the game and with bases loaded, Meredith put a line drive out in center field that would score two more runs. Eau Claire held a 7-4 lead heading into the 7th inning.
However, UW-La Crosse put up three more runs in the 7th and with the Blugolds unable to score, the game moved to extra innings. The Eagles took the lead 9-7 in the 8th on four hits, including a double. That would be the end as Eau Claire couldn't come up with a hit in the bottom half of the inning.
Hitting leaders on the day were Fischer and Meredith who went 5-for-6 and 4-for-5, respectively. Fischer had a home run, triple, and three RBIs to go along with two stolen bases while being walked once. Meredith also had a home run as well as five RBIs. Gilane had four RBIs to go with a triple, her first of the season.
UW-Eau Claire moves to 18-14, 9-3 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Blugolds will play at 10 a.m. on Sunday where they take on UW-Platteville at Gelein Field in another conference doubleheader.
-MRW-