By Kyle Naber, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. (Blugolds.com)- The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team fought off impending rain and the University of Wisconsin-Stout Wednesday evening at Gelein Field to earn two more wins in the WIAC.
Game one box score | Game two box score
In game one, the Blugolds surrendered an early run to the Blue Devils, given up due to an error. Eau Claire is battle tested and responded by scoring five runs in the bottom half of the first inning. A two RBI single by Carlie Christensen (So.-Ellsworth, WI/River Falls) highlighted the rally.
The Blue Devils would respond with a run of their own in the top of the second, but once again it was Eau Claire with a big strike. This time it was Evie Schaller (Jr.-Chippewa Falls, WI) with a two-run blast to give the Blugolds a 7-2 lead. Eau Claire would surrender just one more run, while adding two to cruise to the 9-3 victory.
Zana Lorbetske (Sr.-Rhinelander, WI/Three Lakes) started the game for Eau Claire giving up two runs, one earned, and striking out three in three innings of work. Lauren Blasczyk (Jr.-Appleton, WI/East) came on in relief to throw the last four innings, striking out three, while allowing just one run.
The two teams would have to wait for the beginning of game two, due to a lengthy rain delay. In the second inning the Blugolds struck for three runs. Bri Calder (Fr.-Corcoran, MN/Rockford) started the scoring with an RBI double. Kelsey Meredith (Jr.-Golden Valley, MN/Armstrong) knocked in Calder with another RBI double. Then Brooke Varian (Fr. – Madison, WI/West) knocked in Meredith on an RBI single. The Blue Devils scored their first run, just like game one, on an error from Eau Claire.
UW-Stout would tie the game up at three in the fourth inning. The Blugolds would answer the call thanks to another RBI from Meredith. Once again, the Blue Devils fought back and tied it up on another unearned run in the seventh inning. Tied up at four all, the Blugolds walked off in victory after Tayler Mort (Fr.-Zumbrota, MN/Zumbrota-Mazeppa) hit a sacrifice fly to score Emma Lehman (Fr.-Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park).
Blasczyk earned the win in game two after throwing 7.0 innings, allowing four runs, two earned, and striking out two.
The Blugolds improve to (20-11-1, 8-2-1 WIAC) on the year and have a chance to be WIAC regular season champs for the second-straight year. Eau Claire will decide their fate on Saturday when they take on league-leading University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, with the double header set to start at 2:00 p.m.
