By Kyle Naber, UWEC Sports Info
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. (Blugolds.com)- The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's softball team fought to the end, but eventually fell 2-1 in a marathon thirteen inning game in the WIAC tournament final against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Sunday afternoon at Gelein Field.
Box Score | Photos
The story of Sunday was pitching and defense, as the teams did battle for almost four hours. Both starters threw all thirteen innings for their respective teams, in what was the longest game in WIAC tournament history.
The Blugolds, who were the away team in this match-up due to dropping their first game of the tournament, led off the game with two hits, but were quickly shut down by Whitewater's Julia Camardo.
The Warhawks were able to string together a few hits in the bottom half of the second, but Lauren Blasczyk (Jr. – Appleton, WI) was able to get out of the jam. Both teams had a baserunner in the third inning, but neither team would have another player reach until the sixth inning. Every time the Blugolds hit something hard, it was right at a Warhawk to end the threat.
The top of the ninth inning was eventful for everyone in the audience.
Darby Raffel (So.-Middleton, WI) came on as a pinch hitter for Morgan Lecheler (Jr. – Menominee, WI), who put down a bunt that was fielded by the catcher, who then hit Raffel on the throw to first. After a 30-minute delay to confirm the ruling, Raffel was called out for obstructing the throw to first base. Carlie Christensen So, Ellsworth, WI/River Falls) then reached on an error and advanced on the throw to second, but was stranded after Camardo was able to get a fly out.
Whitewater had the best chance of the game to end it in the bottom of the ninth inning after a double from Em Rux. Amy Ricky followed Rux with a single of her own. Head coach Leslie Huntington elected to intentionally walk the bases loaded with no outs to get force plays all around and Blasczyk was able to get out of the jam, keeping the Blugolds alive.
Eau Claire was finally able to string something together in the top of the twelfth inning, when Kelsey Meredith(Jr.- Golden Valley, MN/Armstrong)doubled. Rachel Heffel (Jr.-Racine, WI/Case) followed her, with a single, but Meredith was called out at home to end the inning.
The game remained scoreless until the thirteenth inning. The Blugolds scored their first run of the game on a solo home run from Evie Schaller (Jr. – Chippewa Falls, WI). This ignited the crowd, giving Eau Claire all the momentum.
In the bottom of the thirteenth, the Blugolds needed three outs to force the second game of they day and the ninth game of the tournament. Whitewater was led off by their leadoff hitter, Mal Klotz who reached on an error and was able to advance to second. The next batter walked, setting up a situation for the Warhawks to sacrifice both runners into scoring position. Eau Claire again elected to load up the bases via the intentional walk. A pinch hitter then came on for Whitewater, but she hit it right to Leah Wolff (Jr.-Middleton, WI) who was able to gun down the runner trying to score on the force out. The next batter Cait Catino would win the game for Whitewater with a walk-off two RBI double.
With the win, Whitewater gains an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Eau Claire will have to wait to see if their name is called as an at-large bid.
