EAU CLAIRE, Wis (Blugolds.com)— After the threat of rain forced the early start of Sunday's home doubleheader, the UW-Eau Claire Softball team made the most of their time on the field, sweeping UW-Platteville 9-1(5 innings) and 2-0.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Video Recap
Amanda Fischer (Sr.-Wausau, WI/West) started off game one on a high note when she turned a 3-2 count into a solo home run to give the Blugolds a 1-0 lead in the 1st inning. In the 2nd inning, UW-Eau Claire put up two more runs after a Nikki Brooks (Sr.-Hammond, WI/St. Croix Central) RBI double to center field and Fischer's single past the UWP shortstop's glove just two plays later to score Brooks.
Leading 3-1 heading into the bottom of the 3rd, Leah Wolff (So.-Middleton, WI) sent a shot to left center field for a double and an RBI. In the 4th, Casey Arnold (Sr.-Kaukauna, WI) came up big and with bases loaded hit a bomb to left field extending the Blugold lead 8-1. Fischer would help UW-Eau Claire close out game one in the bottom of the 5th as she put a line drive into the outfield, scoring the runner from 2nd and getting a Blugold win.
In game two, the Blugolds didn't strike until late in the 2nd inning after Rachel Heffel (So.-Racine, WI/Case) scored on a passed ball. The next, and last, run of the game would come in the 3rd inning when Arnold send another line drive to center field and scored the runner from second. The Blugolds threatened to put up a few more runs in the 5th but with bases loaded and two outs, the Pioneer defense held the score to 2-0. Brooks would make a sliding catch on her knees in shallow left field for the first out in the 7th to spark the UW-Eau Claire defense who got the job done, facing just three UW-Platteville batters.
Heffel went 3-for-3 on the day with a double while Fischer went 5-for-6 with the homerun, double, and three RBIs. Arnold went 3-for-4 including the grand slam and five RBIs.
Zana Lorbetske (Jr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) had an impressive pitching performance, striking out 15 while walking none and allowing only two hits.
The Blugolds move to 20-14 overall, (11-3 WIAC) and will be on the road for their next game. UW-Eau Claire faces Saint Mary's University (Minn.) on Tuesday with games at 3 and 5 p.m.
-MRW-