CLERMONT, Fla. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire softball team fell twice on Sunday at the PFX Games in Florida as the Blugolds lost to No .14 Babson 6-4 and to Allegheny 10-9 in eight innings.
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
In the first game against Babson, the Blugolds were down 5-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Eau Claire would get on the board thanks to back-to-back homeruns by Gretchen Arneson (So.-Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) and Carlie Christensen's (Sr.-Ellsworth, WI/River Falls) to make it 5-2.
After giving up another run in the top of the seventh, Arneson would spark the Blugold offense again in their final at bat, doubling to right center to drive in two more runs with two outs. However, it would not be enough as the Beavers would get the final out to secure the 6-4 win.
Arneson would finish 2-for-4 with three RBIs in the loss while Christensen was also 2-for-4 with one RBI. Eau Claire out-hit Babson 10-9 but committed four errors.
Sarah Peka (So.-Chanhassen, MN/Minnetonka) took the loss on the mound, allowing eight hits and five runs in five and a third innings.
In their afternoon game against Allegheny, the Blugolds found themselves in an early deficit again, trailing 7-1 after three innings of play.
But Emma Lehman's (Jr. – Brooklyn Park, MN/Champlin Park) RBI single in the fourth started the comeback while Bri Calder (Jr.-Corcoran, MN/Rockford) and Katelyn Yute (Fr.-North Prairie, WI/Kettle Moraine) recorded RBI singles in the fifth. Lehman then drove in her second run with a sacrifice fly, closing the gap to 7-5. However, the Gators would tally two more runs in the bottom half to go up 9-5.
In the sixth, the Blugolds plated four runs to tie the game at nine apiece. Calder came up big again, added two more RBIs with a single to center. She would advance to third on a double-steal and Darby Raffel (Sr. – Middleton, WI) would score on the play thanks to a throwing error by the catcher. Calder scored on another Yute single before Lehman would line out to the third basemen to end the rally.
Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, forcing the game into extra innings. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect (placing the last out on second base), the Gators would advance the runner with a sac bunt. The Blugolds would intentionally walk the next two batters to load the bases but a fly out to left field would be enough to plate the winning run.
Yute and Calder led Eau Claire at the plate as Yute was 2-for-2 with two RBIs while Calder was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scored two runs.
Cheyenne Johnson (So.-Poplar, WI/Northwestern) took the loss in the circle to fall to 0-2 on the season.
The Blugolds (6-4) will look to bounce back Monday morning as they take on Carleton College and Hope College.
Follow the action all season long on Blugold Game Day.
